Lions’ Alim McNeill gets encouraging update after Friday injury

Detroit Lions defensive tackle Alim McNeill appears to have avoided a serious injury after leaving Friday’s training camp practice with a neck issue, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported Saturday.

The defensive lineman was hurt after coming out of a pile-up early in the Lions’ second 11-on-11 session. McNeill walked off the field under his own power before later heading to the locker room with rookie linebacker Jimmy Rolder and a trainer. Neither player returned, and the team confirmed both were being evaluated, with Rolder dealing with a leg injury.

The positive update comes after an encouraging start to training camp for McNeill. Head coach Dan Campbell said before Friday’s practice that the 26-year-old defensive tackle looked much closer to his previous form. McNeill also said during June OTAs that he finally felt like himself again after recovering from the torn right ACL he suffered in December 2024.

Before that injury, McNeill recorded 25 tackles, seven tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. He returned to action in Week 7 last season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but did not appear fully recovered. The Lions are counting on the 6-foot-2, 310-pound lineman to regain the level of play he displayed before the knee injury.

Since being selected with the No. 72 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, McNeill has appeared in 71 regular-season games with 60 starts. He has logged 151 tackles, 12.5 sacks, four passes defended and three forced fumbles, including starts in all 54 regular-season games he played over the previous four seasons before last year’s injury.

Following McNeill’s exit, third-year defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo worked with the first-team defense alongside Tyleik Williams. The Lions had Saturday off and will return to practice Sunday, with their first padded session of training camp scheduled for Monday.