ALLEN PARK — Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell hesitates to heap too much praise on any of his guys since they are not wearing pads or as he says it, they’re in pajamas.
Still on Wednesday, the second day of Lions mandatory minicamp, the coach praised defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike using a few words of caution.
“I just want to be careful because we’re not in pads, I want to reiterate that. But Levi is having a really good spring, (Josh) Pachal is too,’’ Campbell said. “But Levi, because of where he’s come from and all he’s had to deal with, this guy he’s continued to rehab, he’s continued to train his body. He’s put on weight because his back can handle it now. He’s having a really good spring.’’
Onwuzurike appreciates the message but he too knows that the real time for evaluation for defensive linemen is when the pads are on.
“I feel like he said there’s no pads so take it with a grain of salt. I’ve done what I worked out in the offseason to do,’’ Onwuzurike said. “I’ve made my place. I think I could’ve done better, 100 percent for sure could’ve done better, but once again we’re not in pads so you can’t really review this.’’
Onwuzurike, the 2021 second-round pick who played 10 regular season and three playoff games in 2023, was coming off missing the whole of 2022 because of a back injury.
“All last year, for the most part, I wasn;t necessarily thinking about it last year but still had limits, you know what I’m saying,’’ Onwuzurike said. “Toward the playoffs is when I really started feeling good.’’
The coaches had asked him to gain weight in the offseason and through a diet heavy on steak, chicken breast and salmon, he did just that. He said he’s about 300 now where last year he played between 280 and 285 pounds.
The difference is his back can handle the extra pounds now.
“It limits you, your back separates your lower body and upper body. The best way I can explain it is that everything is moving together as one. Speed to power, my whole body feels like all one, all together,’’ Onwuzurike said.
He’s adding versatility to his playbook, seeing some time at edge in minicamp.
“You want to take all those opportunities you can, the more you can play, the more spots you can play, the more you’ll get out there,’’ Onwuzurike said. “I played (edge) in high school so I’ve kinda got it in my system.’’
He said he’s getting tip from Aidan Hutchinson, who excels on the edge, and veteran D.J. Reader who mostly plays at nose tackle.
“Whenever (Reader) is on the side and we come off, he gives us little pieces of advice. … Kind of take his word and take it out on the field,’’ Onwuzurike said.
After missing all of his second season in 2022 with that back issue, Onwuzurike is displaying that he’s 100 percent back during this minicamp.
“It’s good to see he’s put on weight which we talked about doing, he’s able to hold that weight, he’s strong, he’s explosive, he’s banking good reps right now,’’ Campbell said.
(Next up: The Lions wrap up the mandatory three-day minicamp on Thursday. Then the veterans will be done until training camp. The rookies are scheduled for practices next week.)
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