Lions DE Levi Onwuzurike to miss start of season

Field Level Media|published: Thu 17th July, 20:11 2025

Detroit Lions defensive end Levi Onwuzurike (91) pressures Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) during the second half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025.

The Detroit Lions placed defensive end Levi Onwuzurike on the reserve/physically unable to perform list on Thursday.

The move to the PUP list means Onwuzurike will miss at least the first four games of the 2025 season.

The Lions didn't divulge the nature of Onwuzurike's injury.

Onwuzurike, 27, started 10 of 16 games played last season and had 28 tackles and 1.5 sacks. He has 3.5 sacks in 42 games with Detroit since joining the club in 2021.

He missed the 2022 season with a major back injury.

The Lions also placed longtime starting left tackle Taylor Decker on the active/physically unable to perform list. Decker has started all 126 games played for the team since joining the franchise in 2016.

Again, Detroit didn't detail specifics about Decker's injury.

Detroit also placed cornerback Khalil Dorsey, guard Miles Frazier, standout defensive tackle Alim McNeill, linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez and defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo on the same list. McNeill and Wingo each sustained season-ending knee injuries in 2024 with McNeill starting a four-year, $97 million extension this season.

In addition, the Lions placed defensive end John Paschal and cornerback Stantley Thomas-Oliver on the active/non-football injury list and released running back Anthony Tyus.

--Field Level Media

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