Levi
Manu
Nowaske
From POD today: āLevi Onwuzurike is making plays with the third team, but much less when he is with the second team, which has raised some questions on his status.ā
Itās starting to feel like theres a chance Levi might not make the teamā¦..
Iām rooting for the guy but busted back and surgically repaired knee is a tough combo to overcome
Well, he had made it back from the back. Itās really a shame. Last year was shaping up to be an absolute breakout year for him, and even with Lacy showing out itād be great to have another reliable piece along that DL.
As is, sounds like he has a while to go to get back to where he was coming off the 24-25 season. And his contract is only a 1-year.
No doubt. And most good dlines rotate 8 guys throughout the game. Even Hutch needs to play less IMO. Hutch played over 1000 snaps last year and rarely came off the field. He might be even better playing a few less snaps. You could see him with his hands on his knees trying to catch his breath pretty often.
Hopefully we can spread the snaps around more and keep these guys fresher and hopefully healthier.
Absolutely on Hutch needing to play less. Itās ridiculous, really, especially given how many long drives this D has given up over the years. Doesnāt matter how fit he is, thereās no way any DL can play 91% of the defensive snaps and not be beyond exhausted, much less a guy who gets the kind of attention Hutch gets.
Even Miles Garrett played āonlyā 82% of defensive snaps last year and heās flippinā Superman.
And that was coming off a serious injury too.
Hopefully, Moore &/or Wonnum take some of those snaps.
We had dudes who could have taken a few snaps off Hutch last year and the year before that and it didnāt happen. Shep and the other D coaches have to be willing to save Mr.-I-donāt-want-to-leave-the-field from himself.
If my math is mathing, Hutch averaged about 59 of 65 defensive snaps/game last year (91%). At 52 per heādāve been right at 80%, which sounds much more reasonable. Weāre talking about subbing him out for an additional 7 snaps per game.
Ideal scenario would be if Payton Turner can be a serviceable Hutch backup for 10 or so snaps a game.
Canāt take backup snaps when your back is snapped.
My question who else is playing DT if Levi is out?
Mac, and Williams are starting duh.
But behind them?
Wingo? (Healthy scratch all 2025)
C Smith. (Practice squad darling 4 years now)
Late draft pick SGH?
Whos playing inside?
Amed, Lacy, Adams west are even more a ābug endā could play outside or 3tech to set the edge.
But whose playing inside?
Manu is as good as gone.
Nowasake is on the bubble but id give him the edge over White right now
I think Wingoās got a shot, if he can stay healthy.
First off, he wasnāt a healthy scratch all of 2025, not technically, he played in 2 games. Second, he was coming off the torn meniscus on Thanksgiving the year before that required a clean-up surgery in April. So even if he was technically healthy enough to come off the injured lists, he wasnāt back to his best/most athletic.
Combine that with the fact he was a 6th round rookie and we already had a lot of vets and a 1st round draft pick, itās no surprise they took it slow with him. I am certainly not ready to write him off based on his circumstances thus far. Not ready to count on him either, just that I think he deserves more consideration than youāre giving him. Certainly I think heāll be āin the mix.ā Again, provided he can stay healthy. I also think weāll get plenty of Lacy and even Hassanein at 3T.
Lions always have 5 DTs.
Mac, Williams, Levi, wingo, Lacy.
Even if you say SGH Will make it. I see wingo or Lacy being first to get chopped
Arent they already thin on interior DL? How can they afford to have Levi be on the bubble? Seems heād have a roster spot by default because the team needs bodies there as is.
And I was told Nowaske was gonna beat out Devin Whiteā¦
Its just who the lions prefer. I think nowasake is far better at reading defenses and special teams. He just doesnt have the physical skills to be great.
White has the skills. But cant read. Multiple scouts and executives have said. Hes great if you give him just 1 task. Ie blitz, or only fallow the TE, or only fallow the RB. Tell him to play zone and read. He fails miserably.
Sounds to me like he aint beating out White
If white makes the roster, it will be over Bachie, or Reeder . Clark has been commanding the defense. Reading things very quickly. So hes a lock for mike2. and because of his reliability and special teams. Nowasake is in.
So those other 3 are fighting for the last spot in my mind. Which is only open because rolder is gonna be out for the start of the year
Certainly could go that way, I just think thereās more variance to the situation than you seem to. The answer to your question āwho else playing DT if Levi is outā has multiple answers, already given. Wingo, Lacy, SGH, C. Smith, someone not on the roster, on and on. Or maybe Levi makes it.