Romeo Okwara hasn’t seen much action in the 2022 season. But the mere fact he’s played at all helped the Detroit defensive end win the Ed Block Courage Award for the Lions.
The team proudly announced Okwara as this year’s winner of the prestigious award. The Ed Block Courage Award isn’t about on-field performance. It is an honor given to a player who overcomes hardship or injury and displays a great attitude and sportsmanship.
That certainly describes Okwara. He tore his Achilles in Week 4 of the 2021 season and labored to get back on the field. It took over a year of hard work and intensive rehab, but Okwara returned for the final five weeks of the season. He’s played well, bagging two sacks in limited duty while helping mentor young defenders like Josh Paschal and James Houston.
Congrats to Okwara on the well-deserved award!
The Ed Block Courage Award recipient is awarded annually to a player who exemplifies sportsmanship or has overcome injury and/or adversity to excel on the field.
A well-deserved honor, @RomeoND45! pic.twitter.com/AuxkaJ5DIo
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) January 6, 2023
