The Detroit Lions will begin training camp in a matter of days, and while most starting spots on the roster are spoken for, there will be several competitions for backup jobs on both sides of the ball.
Lions 2021 second-round pick Levi Onwuzurike will be among those trying to secure a roster spot and depth role after three lackluster seasons to start his career. Not only has Onwuzurike been ineffective on the field, he's also battled injury.
Knowing that, Pro Football Network's Dakota Randall recently listed the Washington product as a cut candidate for Detroit. Here's what he said:
Levi Onwuzurike impressed as a rookie but has appeared in just 10 games since due to injuries. The Lions would save $1.7 million by cutting Onwuzurike, who likely will compete with rookie Mekhi Wingo.
While it's certainly true that Onwuzurike's spot on the roster isn't guaranteed, he is further from the ledge than he was going into the offseason program after he was among the team's biggest standouts in the spring, notching a handful of sacks/pressures during mandatory minicamp.
“Levi is having a really good spring,” head coach Dan Campbell said, according to 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.”
The Lions have an impressive starting duo in the inside in D.J. Reader and Alim McNeill, but the former has injury concerns, which makes having good depth important.
It's safe to say Onwuzurike has a head of steam going into training camp, and that should propel him to have a strong summer en route to earning himself a roster spot and depth role.
