The Detroit Lions earned a massive victory on Monday night, defeating the Baltimore Ravens 38-31 in a matchup that some believe could be a Super Bowl preview. One of the biggest storylines in the victory was the performance of pass-rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad who stepped up in the absence of injured teammate Marcus Davenport.
Muhammad was a force for the Lions on Monday night, logging four total tackles and 2.5 sacks in the win. In his first game after Dan Campbell hinted that he would have a bigger role going forward, Muhammad received a game ball after the game and delivered an important message to his teammates.
“I want to thank every player, every coach, everybody that’s in this organization because about a year ago, I was home. I was on the couch,” Muhammad said via X user Al Karsten. “So, if you get a f*****g opportunity, make sure you take advantage of it. I want to also thank the guys in my room for helping me out this week. Without them, I wouldn’t have been able to do what I did.”
Al-Quadin Muhammad Makes the Most of His Opportunity on MNF
Muhammad’s journey to Detroit was a long one as the 30-year-old played with three different teams before missing the final five games of the 2023 season after receiving a six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s policy for performance-enhancing drugs as a member of the Indianapolis Colts’ practice squad.
After signing with the Lions the following October, Muhammad appeared in nine games, registering 11 total tackles, four tackles for loss and three sacks after being promoted to the active roster. The performance helped him earn a one-year deal to return to the Lions, but his role wasn’t clear until Marcus Davenport suffered a chest injury in last week’s win over the Chicago Bears.
The door was cracked open and Muhammad broke through it by making four total tackles, a tackle for loss and a sack in the victory. When Davenport was placed on injured reserve Monday afternoon, it presented an even bigger opportunity that Muhammad took advantage of.
The performance has Muhammad with a permanent role in the Lions defense and perhaps silences the calls to find another pass rusher on the free agent market. While offenses will adjust to account for Muhammad, it may not matter as the attention would shift away from Aidan Hutchinson, making the Lions pass rush that much better.
It’s a positive development for the Lions early in the season and a role model to look up to for younger players who are waiting for their chance to take the field. With the injury issues the Lions had a year ago, it’s possible more players like Muhammad could step up and help Detroit make a run toward a third-straight NFC North title and potentially a deep run in the playoffs.