The Detroit Lions may not have possessed many healthy defensive backs in their secondary against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, defensive tackle Alim McNeill made his 2025 debut for the Lions on Monday night.
McNeill posted one tackle and a pass defense in the box score. But he made his presence felt throughout the night, pressuring Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield from the defensive line interior.
After the 24-9 victory Monday, Lions head coach Dan Campbell pointed out this is only the beginning of significant players returning to the Detroit lineup this season.
“I’m pleased with the team. Are there things to clean up? Yeah, there is. Good news is we’re going to get a lot of players back,” Campbell told reporters. “You’re going to start seeing players start coming back over the next month. That’s encouraging.”
Campbell added that will only improve his team overall.
“While we’re only getting better and better, we’re going to start getting some of our players back too.”
DT Alim McNeill Returns for Lions vs. Buccaneers
McNeill played for the first time Monday since Week 15 of last season. It didn’t take long for the defensive tackle to make an impact.
“Having Mac, you could feel his presence early. And he’s not really in great football shape yet,” Campbell said. “He’s ready to play in this game for the snaps that he did, but you could just feel, what he looked like in practice is what he looked like here in this game.
“Just his ability to get an edge, push the pocket. I just thought he was a force in there. It’s great to have him back, man. He makes guys around him better. Those guys played off each other.”
McNeill’s pass defense occurred when he deflected a pass on third-and-3 near midfield. The play resulted in a Buccaneers punt.
With McNeill back, the Lions now have a Pro Bowl caliber player on the outside and on the interior of their defensive line.
“It makes a huge difference,” Campbell added. “Anybody would tell you that with a quarterback, if you can push in the middle, most quarterbacks, it’s disruptive.”
Other Injured Lions Players Close to Returning
Along with McNeill, left tackle Taylor Decker returned for the Lions in Week 7. But safety Kerby Joseph and cornerback Terrion Arnold were out versus the Buccaneers.
However, those players aren’t on injured reserve. So, it’s highly likely they will be back within the month timeframe Campbell referenced Monday night.
The Lions have a few other key players on injured reserve who could return before Thanksgiving too. Most notably, defensive end Marcus Davenport, defensive end Josh Paschal along with cornerbacks Khalil Dorsey and D.J. Reed could each be back.
Individually, those four players might not make the same impact as McNeill did in his return. But they are important players on Detroit’s defense.
And once they return, the Lions will have better depth than they previously had thanks to having to play guys who wouldn’t otherwise receive opportunities.
The Lions will have a bye in Week 8. The bye week doesn’t count toward the four-game minimum players on IR have to sit out before returning.
But the bye does mean the Lions will get extra rest before facing the Minnesota Vikings on November 2.
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