With the Detroit Lionsfacing a ton of questions in the secondary, defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard will need his defensive line to rise to the occasion in 2026. Outside of high-level sack production from Aidan Hutchinson and Al-Quadin Muhammad, who is now with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the unit was lackluster in 2025, especially the interior.
One player who will need to step up this season for Detroit's defensive line to take the next step is defensive tackle Alim McNeill. An ACL injury suffered in December 2024 limited McNeill to just 10 games last year, and it was clear the 26-year-old wasn't fully himself even when he returned.
Entering 2026, McNeill will be looking to reestablish himself as an impact defender for the Lions, and he's already regaining form at training camp.
Alim McNeill "Dominating" Lions Camp So Far
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McNeill has been a consistent standout at camp so far, but Tuesday's practice may have been his strongest day. According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, McNeill blew up two offensive plays early in team period, and also pressured quarterback Jared Goff into a throwaway on a key down during situational drills.
McNeill has been around the ball often and is also playing at a lower weight this year. The NC State product is back down to 300 pounds after being listed at 310 pounds in 2025.
It's great to see that McNeill is looking like his old self in camp. When at his best, McNeill is a relentless pass rusher from the interior who tallied two straight seasons with over 40 quarterback pressures in 2023 and 2024.
If McNeill can post a bounce-back 2026 campaign, generating steady pressure on the quarterback and being a solid run defender, the Lions' defensive line will receive a much-needed boost that could potentially change the entire outlook of the defense. We'll continue tracking McNeill's performance in camp and the preseason ahead of Week 1 against the New Orleans Saints.
