Kelvin Sheppard is hardly hiding how much he’s looking forward to seeing Alim McNeill back where he belongs.
The Lions defensive coordinator sounded genuinely moved Thursday when talking about McNeill, whose road back from a 2024 ACL tear has already included a 10-game return last season but now appears to be reaching a different level. Sheppard made it clear that what McNeill showed a year ago was only part of the story.
"I'm so excited for that player. When I say it, it's almost emotional because I know what he wanted to be last year -- and he just couldn't...
He just couldn't. A lot of that tape he couldn't put his foot in the ground and plant, but he was still out there for his brothers.
So I'm just telling you, right here, September 13, I cannot wait to see number 54."
That detail helps explain why McNeill looked so far from himself in 2025. If he couldn’t really plant and drive off that foot, it’s no surprise his game didn’t look like the one that had him trending toward All-Pro territory.
For a defensive lineman, that stuff matters everywhere: balance, power, mobility, speed, explosion. When any of that goes missing, the whole player changes.
This offseason, though, the buzz around McNeill has come with a different kind of credibility. The sense is that he’s regained the traits that made him such a force in the first place, and that’s a big reason the optimism around him has only grown.
It doesn’t hurt that he’s walking back into a defensive line that has looked stout against the run in the preseason. Detroit allowed just 55.33 rushing yards per game.
For some perspective, the Jaguars - last season’s NFL leaders in fewest rushing yards allowed per game at 85.59 - gave up 86.33 per game in the preseason. Even if you strip out the 147 rushing yards Jacksonville surrendered to the Carolina Panthers, the average drops to 56, just a tick above Detroit’s number.
The praise around McNeill isn’t just standard camp fluff, either. On Tuesday, it was revealed that he’ll open the season as one of the team’s defensive captains, a sign that his standing in the locker room has only grown.
McNeill said he was "thankful" for the honor, and explained why it matters to him: "It means a lot. It means you put in the work and the guys trust me as one of their leading teammates, and I'm going to take that role on."
For McNeill, a first-time captain, the title has only added fuel. He said the responsibility has "amped" him up and pushed him to meet the standard that comes with being one of the leaders.
Now comes the part that matters most: Sunday, when McNeill gets his first real chance to show what this version of him looks like. And like Sheppard, plenty of eyes will be on number 54.
In Other News...
Lions Get A Brutal O-Line Warning Before Jared Goff's Season Begins
PFFs latest 2026 offensive line rankings offered a sobering reminder that even a roster built to win up front can feel fragile once injuries enter the picture. The Lions came in at No. 19, a mark that lands well below the expectation around a group that has usually been one of the team's biggest strengths and, in this case, slipped largely because of the injury to starting center Cade Mays.
The drop from 13th to just inside the top 20 is the kind of warning sign Detroit cannot ignore with Jared Goffs season approaching. Analyst Gordon McGuinness pointed to the lines current composition as the concern, and for a team that has leaned on protection and continuity to keep its offense on schedule, the question now is whether the group can hold up long enough to avoid becoming a problem before the games even start. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Rookie Debate Is Already Centered On One Crucial Position Battle
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Moore and Miller also represent the kind of choice that can tell you a lot about how a team views its future. One path points to an edge of the defense where disruption can show up quickly, while the other comes through a position battle where reliability and early trust often matter just as much as upside. For now, the discussion is still speculative, but the Lions already have a rookie race worth tracking closely because the answer may say something important about where the roster is headed next. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Suddenly Have A Week 1 Depth Concern Fans Should Watch
The Lions got through Thursdays practice with a fairly routine injury report as they turn their attention to the Saints, but there was still a little uncertainty attached to the week. Several players were full participants, while Derrick Moore, Mekhi Wingo and Christian Izien were limited as the team continued sorting through a few lingering health issues ahead of game planning.
Dan Campbell offered a cautious read on where things stand, and the overall tone sounded more hopeful than alarmed. Even so, any limited practice reps this late in the week are worth watching for a Detroit roster trying to get everyone lined up before Week 1, especially with a matchup against New Orleans approaching fast. [Read more 🡒]