After not recording a single sack last week against the Green Bay Packers, the Detroit Lions were hoping that their pass rush would come alive in their Thursday night clash against the Dallas Cowboys.
Luckily for Lions fans and defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard, his unit answered the call as they racked up five sacks on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, surpassing their total from the previous four games (four).
Veteran defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad was the standout star on the defensive line, posting three sacks. He also had four quarterbacks, three tackles for loss, and three total tackles.
The last time Muhammad recorded multiple sacks in a game was against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 3 (2.5 sacks). For the veteran defensive lineman, Thursday night’s performance was a long time coming as he hadn’t had a sack in Detroit’s previous four games.
Muhammad, who was re-signed to a cheap one-year deal this offseason, looked like the guy we saw earlier this season on Thursday. And if you’re Detroit GM Brad Holmes, you might want to consider re-signing the veteran defensive lineman this offseason.
Lions’ Looming Al-Quadin Muhammad Decision May Already Be Made
When the Lions re-signed Muhammad to a one-year deal this offseason, they were hoping that the veteran defender could build off his performance last year. The 30-year-old Muhammad had eight QB pressures, five QB hits, and three sacks in nine games.
However, they likely didn’t imagine Muhammad having nine sacks after Thursday night’s 44-30 win, which changes the conversation about his future in Detroit.
The Lions’ pass rush has been a huge topic of discussion throughout this season, as it hasn’t been consistent. At the start of the season, Muhammad and Aidan Hutchinson were the bright spots, as Marcus Davenport was placed on injured reserve.
Muahmmad was rewarded with extra snaps and proceeded to rip off six sacks in the Lions’ first eight games. However, as we previously mentioned, the veteran defender went through a mild slump, getting no sacks and recording one pressure.
But with Thursday night’s performance, the Lions might have no choice but to bring back the veteran defender. He’s been the most consistent option outside of Hutchinson and is showing that he can be depended on, unlike Davenport.
According to Spotrac.com, Muhammad’s calculated market value is a two-year, $16 million deal ($8 million AAV). The Lions may or may not want to go up to $8 million per year, but we know that a one-year deal will not be acceptable, as Muhammad is closing in on his first 10-sack season.