Lions ‘year of reckoning’ gets off to tough start with injury blow
The Lions are already down a key veteran just a few days into training camp.
The Detroit Lions reported for training camp on Saturday as they prepare for what running back David Montgomery believes will be a “year of reckoning” for the team.
Detroit has risen from laughing stock to Super Bowl contender in recent years, but the Lions have suffered playoff heartbreak in each of the last two seasons.
They were denied by an historic NFC Championship Game comeback by the San Francisco 49ers at the end of the 2023 campaign, the Niners tying their own record by fighting back from 17 points down to win a 34-31 thriller.
Detroit’s most recent postseason exit had no such drama, though the Lions’ defeat was stunning as they were blown out at home by the upstart Washington Commanders in the Divisional Round.
The Lions are again considered among the favorites in the NFC, and Montgomery made it clear that almost is not good enough for Detroit in 2025.
“Everybody’s tired of being close,” Montgomery said. “It’s cool to be close at first, but you don’t want to get comfortable with being close all the time.
“That’s not what you want to be known for, especially when you know you’ve got the guys, you’ve got on this team. You want to finish it, so this is the year for us. The year of the reckoning and the year that we choose that we need to finish.”
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Yet the Lions have already suffered a setback in their preparations for the new season.
Detroit’s primary issue last season was on the defensive side of the ball, as an injury-ravaged unit gave up 5.7 yards per play, the sixth-most in the NFL. The Lions gave up 123 plays of at least 15 yards. Only six teams allowed more.
The defense has lost a key member on Sunday, with defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike ruled out for the season with a torn ACL.
Onwuzurike re-signed with the Lions on a one-year deal in March, but he will now be a spectator for the campaign after surgery.
He was poised to be a crucial part of the Lions’ rotation on the interior defensive line, with DJ Reader and Alim McNeill set to start at the two defensive tackle spots.
There was already reason to have some concerns about the Detroit defensive line because of their starters at defensive end. Aidan Hutchinson is one of the game’s elite edge rushers, but he is coming off a serious injury, while Marcus Davenport has seen his career consistently hindered by injuries.
With Onwuzurike out for the season, there will be much more pressure on first-round defensive tackle Tyleik Williams to hit the ground running and play significant snaps year one.
Given the Lions’ recent track record in the draft under general manager Brad Holmes and Detroit’s prowess at developing talent, there is room for optimism that Williams can fill the void left by Onwuzurike. Still, losing a key veteran is hardly the start the Lions will have wanted to training camp as they aim to finally get over the hump.