Josh Paschal’s Season Ends Before It Begins - and Possibly His Time in Detroit, Too
As the Detroit Lions prepped for their Thanksgiving Day matchup against the Green Bay Packers, the team faced a familiar roster dilemma: juggling returning players from injury with the hard math of a 53-man roster. Three players were on the verge of returning, but only two roster spots ended up being opened - and the odd man out was defensive end Josh Paschal.
While Marcus Davenport was officially activated and rookie offensive lineman Miles Frazier was added at the end of his 21-day return window, Paschal’s name was notably absent from the transaction list. Though his return window had also expired, he wasn’t activated from the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list. Instead, he was ruled out for the game - and now, for the season - without playing a single snap.
And just like that, Paschal’s 2025 campaign is over before it ever really started.
A Career Stalled by Injuries
This was supposed to be a pivotal year for Paschal. The Lions had invested a top-50 pick in him back in the 2022 NFL Draft, and 2025 marked the final year of his rookie contract. For a Detroit team still searching for consistent pass rush help beyond Aidan Hutchinson, a healthy and productive Paschal could’ve made a real difference.
But injuries have been the defining theme of his NFL journey so far.
His rookie year was derailed from the jump. A lingering sports hernia from his college days at Kentucky required surgery, which caused him to miss the first five games of 2022.
Later that season, a knee injury cost him two more games. He managed to record two sacks - both in the same game - across 10 appearances.
In 2023, it was another knee issue, this time during practice ahead of Week 2. That cost him five more games. He played in 12 total and notched just one sack.
2024 was his healthiest season to date. Paschal suited up for 14 games and made 10 starts - both career highs - but the production still didn’t follow.
He finished with two sacks and a Pro Football Focus grade that placed him outside the top 100 edge rushers. For a player drafted to be a disruptive force on the edge, it wasn’t the kind of season that moves the needle.
A Quiet End to a Quiet Season
Paschal’s 2025 season never really got off the ground. The Lions opened his practice window on November 5, and by all accounts, he was trending in the right direction.
He even progressed to full participation in practice. But just two days before the Thanksgiving game, he was listed as a non-participant.
That was the final sign.
Dan Campbell may have hinted at this outcome weeks ago, subtly acknowledging that Paschal might not be able to go this year. Now it’s official: no games, no snaps, and no return to the field in 2025.
What’s Next?
With his rookie deal set to expire in March, Paschal’s future in Detroit is very much in question. The Lions have been patient, but the NFL is a business - and availability matters. Paschal’s potential has always been intriguing, but after three seasons filled with stops and starts, the team may decide it’s time to move on.
For Paschal, the focus now shifts to getting fully healthy and trying to reignite his career - whether that’s in Detroit or somewhere else. The talent is there. The question, as it’s always been, is whether his body will let him show it.