The Detroit Lions largely wanted to keep their core on both ends of the field for next season. Despite losing key members of the coaching staff, the Lions prioritized keeping the team together for continuity. After being ravaged by injuries all season, head coach Dan Campbell and GM Brad Holmes are hoping that better luck and a cleaner bill of health will help them get over the hump in 2025.
In the NFL, however, there is only so much continuity you can have. Offseason departures are bound to happen, and the Lions also lost a few key members, including Carlton Davis and Kevin Zeitler.
Another longtime contributor that they lost was Ifeatu Melifonwu. The 25-year-old safety, who was the third-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, spent the past four seasons in Detroit. Due to his struggles with injuries, however, he was only able to suit up in 37 games.
Needing a fresh start and a new opportunity to establish his NFL career, Melifonwu signed a one-year deal with the Miami Dolphins in free agency. Upon signing with his new team, the former Lions safety discussed his time in Detroit.
In his remarks to Sports Illustrated's Emmett Matasovsky, the former Syracuse standout revealed his past mistakes early in his NFL career that resulted in injuries.
"I think early on I didn’t do as much as I should have been, like just being young. But there’s definitely – sometimes it’s luck to be honest. Some stuff I had, like tackle and I got rolled up on with my ankle facing up. Sometimes it’s just pure luck, but there’s definitely stuff I’ve approached this offseason with my trainer and nutrition-wise and different stuff like that to help prevent injuries going forward."Ifeatu Melifonwu
When Melifonwu was drafted by the Lions, he was 21 years old. He was admittedly not taking care of his body well enough.
In his second game in the NFL, he suffered a thigh injury that forced him out for most of the season. In his first two years in the league, he was only able to play in 17 games.
While injuries in the NFL are unavoidable, and sometimes it's just bad luck, there are things players can do to better prepare their bodies for the wear and tear of the long season. Melifonwu, who hasn't paid enough attention to that during his Lions tenure, is now ready to hit another level in his NFL career after leaving Detroit.