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By Matthew Davis
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While injuries for the Detroit Lions weren't as decimating in 2025 as it was in 2024, there was a key absence in defensive tackle Alim McNeill for much of the season.
He missed half of the 2025 season from his ACL tear in December 2024, and McNeill only had 14 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and three quarterback hits in 10 games last year. McNeill did far more the previous two seasons, and that's what Lions head coach Dan Campbell is looking forward to seeing again.
“Mac is very important. It is gonna be huge,” Campbell told reporters on Friday. “I know we’re only two days in, but he does look better. He looks like he’s back to what he was. He’s healthy."
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McNeill is a strong interior lineman with excellent hands and a quick first step. He has 12.5 sacks, 151 tackles, 30 quarterback hits, four pass deflections and three forced fumbles in his career.
"He would never say anything about it, he never did last year, but when we went back and watched clip after clip back to back, he was favoring the leg a little bit," Campbell said. "I don’t think he even realized it."
"It’s just good to have him back," Campbell added. "He looks great, he’s moving well, and he’s a huge piece of our defense.”
McNeill could be a key difference for the Lions defense, which gave up 24.3 points per game for 22nd in the league last year. The Lions were 20th in passing yards allowed and 14th in rushing yards allowed.
McNeill gives the Lions another force in the trenches, as he is back to full strength. He does well at forcing the pocket to collapse, and he takes on double teams well.
A former third-round pick from N.C. State in 2021, McNeill has never made a Pro Bowl before. However, if he's part of a Lions defensive resurgence in 2026, that could change.
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