The Detroit Lions' lack of pass rush upgrades in the offseason has been a constant point of criticism. Even though the team desperately needed to bolster their defensive end rotation, the Lions opted to stand pat and only addressed the position late in the draft. They selected Ahmed Hassanein in the sixth round and demonstrated their faith in him by not making any more additions.
Early in the camp and throughout the postseason, Hassanein lived up to the expectations, showing intriguing flashes and the ability to be a part of the rotation as a rookie. He was the fourth-highest graded defender on the Lions in the preseason, per Pro Football Focus. Unfortunately, however, he was forced to leave Detroit's third preseason game on Saturday with a pectoral injury. After the game, head coach Dan Campbell had said that the injury would sideline the rookie fan favorite "for a while".
On Monday evening, Hassanein posted an update on his status for the first time.
Ahmed Hassanein posts on Instagram Stories that he doesn’t need surgery, “just time to heal.”
— Erik Schlitt (@erikschlitt) August 18, 2025
“I’ll be back. Hungrier, than I ever been.” pic.twitter.com/8xsAIONMHe
Lions Rookie Shares First Injury Update
In his message, Hassanein shared that he doesn't need surgery, but only requires "time to heal", while thanking God and the people who have been asking about him. He also teased that he will be back "hungrier" than he has ever been.
The fact that Hassanein is using this injury as an opportunity for extra motivation and isn't letting it get to him is a good sign. Not requiring surgery should also help the beloved rookie to get back to his previous form.
The Lions have yet to rule Hassanein out for the season by placing him on injured reserve. While all the reporting out of Detroit suggests that the former Boise State standout will miss significant time, the lack of IR placement suggests that the team is holding out hope for the rookie's return. The Lions can still place him on injured reserve at the roster cutdown date, and he won't count against the 53-man roster. This would make him eligible to return later in the season.
Even though Hassanein wasn't expected to play a huge role this season, his absence will still hurt Detroit's depth at the EDGE. This could warrant a move by the Lions to add to their depth at the key position, but whether that is an internal move, a veteran signing, or a trade remains to be seen.