Roster moves before Sunday's game are common in the NFL. Teams like to shuffle the back end of their roster every week, which includes cuts, signings, and practice squad elevations. When the Detroit Lions released their list of roster moves on Friday, not many were expecting to see defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike's name on it.
The Lions released Onwuzurike from the 53-man roster and rookie defender Tyre West from the practice squad. As surprising as these decisions were, the fact that the Lions didn't sign anyone to the roster or the practice squad is more fascinating.
What could this mean for the Lions ahead of their Week 1 clash against the Saints?
Levi Onwuzurike's Lions tenure may not be over yet despite his release
Onwuzurike's release is certainly surprising, especially two days before the season opener. The 28-year-old defender was expected to have a big role for Detroit after missing all of last season with an ACL tear. There were no signs that the Lions were not satisfied with where Onwuzurike was in his return.
It's not like the Lions have a ton of depth on the interior defensive line. Alim McNeill, Tyleik Williams, and Skyler Gill-Howard will play the lion's share of snaps there, but there are questions about all three of these names. McNeill has yet to get back to his pre-injury level. Williams wasn't particularly impressive in his rookie season and has to take a big step forward in Year 2. Gill-Howard has had a good training camp and preseason, but he was a sixth-round selection for a reason.
Plus, Onwuzurike was solid the last time we saw him play. During the 2024 season, he was an effective pass rusher. His 11.9% pass-rush win rate tied for 13th among qualified interior defensive linemen. He had a 69.4 defensive grade on Pro Football Focus that season.
It's hard to imagine the Lions just wanting to part ways with him without having an adequate replacement. That is why it may be more likely that the Lions are considering bringing Onwuzurike back.
If the former second-round pick was on the roster in Week 1, his 2026 salary would have been guaranteed. The Lions may have wanted to avoid this. Instead, they may just sign him to the practice squad and elevate him before the season opener. They could also just wait until after Week 1 to sign him back to the 53-man roster. This obviously means that he can't play on Sunday.
Onwuzurike has had serious injury issues throughout his career and is coming off an ACL tear. The Lions may be justified in not wanting to guarantee his salary without seeing him back in action. If he is anywhere near what he showed in 2024, however, Onwuzurike will play a role for this team.
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