Detroit Lions defensive tackle Alim McNeill is expected to sit out Wednesday’s practice, but there’s no sign the team is worried about his availability for Week 3.
Head coach Dan Campbell said before practice at the team’s Allen Park Performance Center that McNeill would not take part Wednesday. Still, Campbell made it clear the absence was not being treated like a setback that would threaten McNeill’s status for the game against the New York Jets. The expectation is that he’ll be back on the field Thursday.
McNeill has logged 149 snaps through the first two games of the 2026 NFL season.
Detroit should also get some help back up front on Wednesday afternoon. Offensive linemen Christian Mahogany and Blake Miller are both expected to return to practice after missing the game against the Bills.
Campbell’s comments this week also came as defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard has drawn plenty of scrutiny. The conversation around Sheppard has intensified, but Campbell continued to stand behind him, pointing to the same kind of patience the organization showed with Aaron Glenn when Glenn was criticized in 2021 and 2022 during a slow start. Campbell backed Glenn then, and the Jets coach eventually helped guide the team to the NFC Championship Game in 2023.
Now, with Glenn bringing his 1-1 Jets to Ford Field for a Week 3 matchup, Campbell is making it clear he expects Sheppard to keep his job for the foreseeable future.
He explained why he remains confident in the defensive coordinator, even after what he called one of the worst game plans against an AFC contender.
"Yeah. I mean, to me it's competent, communication, the guys still believed in him, has command and still a confidence in the staff and the players and all of those are checked boxes.
And so, I believe in Sheppard, man. I believe he's an outstanding coach," said Campbell.
"There is a bump in the road. I think the staff is outstanding, that defensive staff.
I think it's a veteran staff and I think they're versatile and we have got to coach better and they can coach better. I can coach better, but I believe they're the right guys to get this thing done.”
The Jets’ visit sets up a Week 3 game that is expected to be physical and hard-fought.
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