Lions Top Star Player Breakout DL Returns Back For 2024 Season…

ALLEN PARK — In order to win the season finale and advance to the postseason, the Detroit Lions hope to have some reinforcements return to the practice field this week. Additionally, Dan Campbell is upbeat about the status of rookie tight end Sam LaPorta and wide receiver Jameson Williams, who both hobbled out of Week 17 in Dallas.

LaPorta played the entire game, but in the locker room afterwards, he was clearly limping. Jameson Williams, who appeared to roll both of his ankles while catching a 63-yard pass downfield from quarterback Jared Goff, also did not return. After using the locker room and the medical tent, he watched the fourth quarter from the sidelines.

Williams is doing well, all right. He has a small amount of ankle. But for now, it will be on a daily basis. But nothing noteworthy,” Campbell responded to an MLive question.

Regarding LaPorta, what is her situation?

Not at all. He is competent. The third-year head coach declared on Monday afternoon, “He’s good.”

Over the past month or so, Williams has earned a bigger part in the offense. After putting five passes on the ground in his first five games of the season, the explosive wide receiver has not dropped a pass in eight straight games. As demonstrated in Dallas last Saturday, he has gained the respect of both his coaches and the starting quarterback, and it is beginning to pay off on the field.

“He’s worked himself into that role and trust him on really everything he’s doing now,” Goff said of Williams last week. “And he’s done a hell of a job, man, getting himself there. And again, it’s just reps, just time and he’s still a young player and still learning and growing, but just keeps doing this every week. And it’s exciting for me, it’s exciting for our offense.”

Campbell added that the team is hopeful fiery defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson is back on the field this weekend after returning to practice and having his 21-day window opened last week. And the head coach mentioned fullback Jason Cabinda (who isn’t on the roster) as someone he wants to see back, too.

After rupturing his pectoral muscle in Week 2, Gardner-Johnson has been sidelined. However, he recovered remarkably quickly, returning to the practice field with his squad three months later. Although Cabinda was waived in the midst of the roster Olympics, Campbell’s plans for him are not surprising.

But that’s just what’s tentatively going through my mind,” Campbell remarked

But the Lions head coach dropped an important update on breakout defensive lineman Alim McNeill, who has been on injured reserve with a knee sprain. McNeill traveled with the Lions for last week’s trip to Dallas, the first time he’s done that since suffering the injury in Week 13.

Prior to his injury, McNeill was Detroit’s second-highest reviewed defender and the sixth-best interior defender according to Pro Football Focus. In 13 games this season, he was second only to Aidan Hutchinson with 33 pressures created.

And, well, with those 33 pressures, McNeill is still second on the team despite playing from the interior and missing the previous four games. The only Lions defenders with more than 30 created on the season are him and Hutchinson, who has 93 on the year and is among the best in the league in that category

To put it mildly, it would be extremely beneficial for this defense if McNeill could get going before the playoffs. Apart from Hutchinson, Aaron Glenn has been the main source of pressure by constantly coming up with new strategies to use his linebackers and defensive backs to exert more force.