Lions Have Run Out of Excuses Not to Sign Familiar Face

The Detroit Lions are already dealing with injuries on their squad, and the season hasn’t even started yet. It’s an all too familiar place for the team, which dealt with a ton of injuries last season, including star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson. Those injuries could have cost them a playoff win, or wins. Now, it’s already happening again.

Head coach Dan Campbell spoke to reporters ahead of the Lions’ first training camp practice on Sunday, July 20, and dropped the news that defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike is out for the entire season with a torn ACL.

Now, following this development, it could not be more clear what the Lions have to do. Brad Holmes has been dragging his feet on this situation, but he can’t wait any longer.

The Lions Have to Make 1 Move Fast

Holmes needs to call, text or send a smoke signal to Za’Darius Smith right away and get him back on this squad. It’s a move many in the Lions’ fanbase have been wanting to see this entire offseason, but Holmes has remained strangely uninterested in the idea of signing another big-named edge rusher.

Smith wants to come back. He’s even dating Detroit rapper Kash Doll and, at this point, is a real part of the city. He told USA Today in June, “We both know where I want to be. Hopefully I can get back to Detroit because the coaching staff and everybody in the front office are great. When I’m there I feel like a leader and like I can influence the young guys and do great things. Hopefully I can get back to where I want to be in Detroit.”

Smith was brought onto the Lions’ squad when he joined the team in 2024, following Hutchinson’s season-ending injury and the Lions’ collection of injuries on their defensive squad. Smith had four sacks, three tackles for loss and 10 quarterback hits in his eight games with the Detroit Lions.

Defensive Lineman is a Natural Fit With the Lions

Smith was a natural fit with the team. So far, Smith is still available. He’s a free agent, but as soon as the season starts up and injuries across the NFL begin to happen, there’s a good chance another team will snag him.

The Lions already have a solution to their new injury problem, and they can’t wait on making a move. All throughout this offseason, Holmes has been criticized for not making big moves, and during the draft, the Lions didn’t use one of their early picks to get an edge rusher. Now, with this setback already happening, it simply makes sense to make the deal with Smith. At this point, one has to wonder why Holmes doesn’t seem to have to make the move. If you have any thoughts, let me know.

Onwuzurike signed to the Lions on just a one-year, $4 million deal, so this might be the end of his time as a Lion. Speaking to reporters regarding Onwuzurike, Campbell said, “Let me start with Levi. Levi’s out for the year. Levi’s surgery, it was significant but it needed to be done. Out of his control, so he will miss the season.”