The Detroit Lions were big fans of Ahmed Hassanein in the NFL draft. A sixth-round pick out of Boise State, Hassanein was a project for the Lions that they were hoping could develop into the type of depth piece they didn’t have when a 15-2 record turned into a quick playoff exit last season. But things changed when Hassanein suffered an injury during the preseason and was waived with an injury settlement.
The decision to release Hassanein was a risky one, as any team could have claimed him on waivers. But after a wait, the gamble paid off as Hassanein signed with the team’s practice squad on Monday afternoon.
Brad Holmes’ Bold Move with Ahmed Hassanein is Paying Off for Lions
Hassanein suffered a pectoral injury during a preseason game for the Lions, which led them to decide to release him with the injury settlement. While Hassanein had to wait until he was healthy and an additional three weeks to rejoin the team, it felt like a handshake deal was made with general manager Brad Holmes when he discussed the move last August.
“Bottom line: He’s going to be a Detroit Lion,” Holmes said, via Pride of Detroit’s Jeremy Reisman. “He’s going to be back on the football field playing this year.”
But there was also a method to the move. While the Lions could have placed him on injured reserve, it would have burned up one of their eight designations allowed during the season. With Hassanein not ready to contribute regularly, Holmes felt like releasing him with the settlement was the right decision.
“What we wanted to do is what is going to be the best path for him to get him back to the practice field when he’s healthy, and the injury settlement was the way to go,” Holmes said, via Pride of Detroit. “Especially [with] him specifically, where he was at in his football career.
Adding to the risk of the decision was Hassanein’s status as an international player. According to Pride of Detroit’s Erik Schlitt, Hassanein’s spot on the practice squad wouldn’t count against the 16 spots allotted to each team. If a team decided to claim him, they could have stashed him on the practice squad and wouldn’t have to make a corresponding move to open up a spot for him to join the team.
That didn’t happen, though, and Hassanein now has a chance to fulfill the Lions’ vision. He only started playing football at the age of 18 after moving back to the United States from Egypt in 2018, so he is still a prospect that can be molded the way Detroit sees fit. Hassanein exploded onto the scene during his final two seasons of his collegiate career with 12.5 sacks for Boise State in 2023 and 9.5 sacks in 2024.
If Hassanein turns into the player the Lions think he’s capable of being, it’s a risk that would have paid off. Without Holmes' foresight, which led to the franchise moving forward with the unconventional path around Hassanein’s injury, we likely wouldn't have this conversation today.