The first three years of Detroit Lions 2021 second-round pick and defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike's career has been disappointing to say the least, both in terms of his production and injury issues.
However, Onwuzurike appears to be past the back woes that troubled him in recent years and has stood out so far this offseason.
Before minicamp practice on Wednesday, head coach Dan Campbell heaped praise on the fourth-year player, saying that Onwuzurike is "having a really good spring" while noting he's in good shape.
“Levi is having a really good spring,” Campbell said, per Jeff Risdon of Lions Wire. “(Josh) Paschal is too but Levi – because where he’s come from and all he’s had to deal with, I mean, this guy just has continued to rehab, he’s continued to train his body and work, he’s put on weight because his back can handle it now, we got him through last year to where he’s able to bank some reps and he’s having a really good spring.”
But Onwuzurike has been getting it done on the practice field, also. According to Jeremy Reisman of Pride of Detroit, the defensive lineman has tallied a pair of pressures in each of the past two days at mandatory minicamp.
Onwuzurike is showing some more versatility, too. According to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com, he's getting a look on the edge, which will only help him garner more snaps, assuming he makes the roster.
It's still early and the pads haven't come on yet, but Onwuzurike is off to a positive start to this offseason, something he desperately needed.
