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 nature of Onwuzurike’s injury remains unclear.
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.
Losing Onwuzurike is a huge blow for Lions coach Dan Campbell as he prepares for another attempt to reach the Super Bowl.
The Lions finished as the No. 1 seed in the NFC last season but lost their first playoff game after the bye at home to the Washington Commanders.
The Detroit Lions have placed defensive end Levi Onwuzurike on the PUP list on Thursday
It means Dan Campbell will be without him for at least the first four games of the 2025 season
Campbell is already facing an uphill battle after losing both offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn to head coaching jobs with the Bears and Jets respectively.
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, $97million 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.
