It slid a little under the radar, but the Lions placed second-year DT Levi Onwuzurike on the injured reserve on Saturday. The big lineman from Washington will be out through at least Week 4 with the ongoing back and hip injury that has kept him sidelined since the first padded practice of training camp.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell was asked about Onwuzurike’s status in his press conference on Monday. Campbell offered a somber response on the 2021 second-rounder.
“It’s still the same issue,” Campbell said. “It’s just slow going right now. We don’t feel like there’s a setback but yet it’s just not progressing the way we hoped.”
Back in the preseason, Campbell termed Onwuzurike’s recovery at “a snail’s pace”. It’s an injury that dates back to before the Lions selected Onwuzurike with the No. 41 overall pick a year ago. He played in 16 games as a rookie but was largely ineffective due to his ongoing back problems.
