Levi Onwuzurike is heading into training camp with a real opening in front of him, and for the Detroit Lions, that could be the difference between a defensive line that holds up and one that keeps leaking yards.
That opportunity exists because the Lions need answers up front. Aidan Hutchinson remains the headliner on the defensive line, but Detroit’s run defense was in clear need of help in 2025. The numbers tell the story: the Lions allowed 114.5 rushing yards per game in 2025 after giving up 98.4 per game in 2024, and their points allowed jumped from 20.1 to 24.3.
Onwuzurike is in position to matter if he can take advantage of that need. Right now, he is listed among Detroit’s starting defensive tackles, but the competition behind him is real enough to keep the job from feeling secure. Rookie Skylar Gill-Howard could push for a role if the Lions’ gamble on him pays off, and Tyleik Williams could also become a factor if Alim McNeill’s return bumps Williams down the depth chart.
That makes camp a huge stretch for Onwuzurike. The 2021 second-round pick has already missed too much time to be handed anything automatically for 2026, especially with Detroit’s coaching staff making it clear that multiple jobs are open this offseason. Starting at right defensive tackle is one of them.
His path has been bumpy. Last season was cut short before it really got going, and he has not taken a snap since 2024. Even in that season, the production was modest: 28 total tackles in 16 games, along with 3.5 stuffs and 1.5 sacks.
Still, there was a reason Lions fans bought into him early. When he was drafted, he said:
"I like f---ing people up. I like to get off the line and just put my helmet or my hands on an offensive lineman and f--- up an offensive scheme, pretty much. I like pushing 'em back 2, 3 yards and just making 'em feel like s---."
That kind of edge is exactly what Detroit could use now. If Onwuzurike shows up healthy and sharp, he has a chance to turn a forgotten spot on the depth chart into something much more important.
In Other News...
Buccaneers Are Seeing Why Alex Anzalone Meant So Much In Detroit
Alex Anzalones move to Tampa Bay has already given the Buccaneers a fresh look at the kind of linebacker Detroit spent years valuing. The veteran signed a two-year deal and has stepped into the weakside role in Todd Bowles defense, bringing the same versatility and command that made him a captain and a steady presence for the Lions. After a productive 2025 season in Detroit, the early signs in Tampa have been encouraging.
For the Lions, this is the familiar reminder that Anzalone was never just a stat sheet player. He handled traffic, helped set the tone and gave Detroit a defensive voice it could trust, even as a concussion kept him out of Week 18 last season. Tampa Bay is also trying to sort out life after Lavonte Davids retirement, so Anzalones arrival comes with real expectations, and the first stretch of his new job is already showing why Detroit valued him so highly. [Read more 🡒]
These Lions Fringe Players Are Suddenly In The 53-Man Conversation
The back end of the Lions roster is starting to get a little more interesting than the usual camp fodder. Eight members of the Pride of Detroit staff recently sorted Detroits 90-man group into a consensus ranking for 2026, and the names clustered in the 80s and 70s are the sort of fringe players who can disappear quickly in August or force their way into the conversation with a strong enough summer.
A few of the usual long-shot labels still apply, but there are also players with clearer paths than a typical camp body, which is what makes this part of the roster worth watching. Detroits need for help at nose tackle after losing Roy Lopez and DJ Reader gives one interior option a real opening, while the mix also includes a veteran with a lengthy resume and a handful of young linemen and skill players trying to turn limited opportunities into something more permanent. [Read more 🡒]
This Familiar Lions Receiver Is Suddenly Back In The Roster Fight
The Lions receiver room is still sorting itself out as camp and preseason decisions loom, and Tom Kennedy has found himself right back in the mix. A familiar face in Detroit since 2019, Kennedy has long been valued for his versatility, including his work as a return specialist, and he is now competing for one of the handful of wideout spots the team is expected to keep on the final roster.
With around five or six receivers likely to survive the cut, the margin for error is thin for everyone on the bubble. Kennedy is part of that fight alongside players such as Dominic Lovett and Cedrick Wilson Jr., plus a group of UFL receivers trying to force their way into the conversation, and the Lions still have some sorting to do before the depth chart settles. [Read more 🡒]