The Lions signed McNeill to a four-year contract extension Tuesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
A third-round pick by the Lions in the 2021 NFL Draft, McNeill was in the final year of his rookie deal but will now spend the foreseeable future in Detroit. McNeill has started 41 of the 52 games he's appeared in with the Lions, logging 120 tackles (54 solo), including 10.5 sacks, 24 QB hits and one forced fumble. Playing 63 percent of the defensive snaps through five games to open the 2024 season, McNeill has eight tackles (five solo), including 2.5 sacks, four QB hits and one pass deflection. With Aidan Hutchinson (leg, IR) done for the year, the Lions will need others, including McNeill, to step up in the pass-rushing department.
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Lions' Alim McNeill: Two sacks in blowout victory
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McNeill recorded four total tackles (two solo), including 2.0 sacks, in Sunday's 47-9 win over the Cowboys.
McNeill got to Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott twice in Detroit's blowout victory, recording a sack in both the second quarter and fourth quarter. It was the second straight game in which the defensive lineman was able to get to the opposing quarterback. and he's now halfway to the career-high 5.0 sacks he set last season. Through five games in 2024, McNeill has now compiled eight total tackles (five solo), including 2.5 sacks, while also registering a pass defensed.
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Lions' Alim McNeill: Full go at practice
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McNeill (shoulder) was a full participant at the Lions' practice Friday, Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com reports.
McNeill left the team's 20-13 win over the Cardinals in Week 3 with a shoulder injury, but he appears to be a full go ahead of Monday's matchup with the Seahawks. The defensive lineman has recorded two solo tackles through three games this year.
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Lions' Alim McNeill: Day-to-day with shoulder issue
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McNeil is considered day-to-day after leaving Sunday's 20-13 win over the Cardinals with a shoulder injury, Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com reports.
McNeil's practice participation throughout the week will provide a better indication of his possible availability for Week 4, when the Lions face the Seahawks on Monday. The defensive tackle has recorded two tackles through the Lions' first three games.
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Lions' Alim McNeill: Ruled out
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McNeill (shoulder) has been ruled out for the rest of Sunday's game against the Cardinals.
The starting defensive tackle did not record a stat before exiting. Kyle Peko, Levi Onwuzurike and Mekhi Wingo are Detroit's backup defensive tackles.
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Lions' Alim McNeill: Totals 5.0 sacks in 2023
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McNeill logged 32 tackles, 5.0 sacks, one pass breakup and one forced fumble over 13 regular-season games in 2023.
McNeill consistently looked like one of the best players on a Detroit defense that made huge improvements in run defense between 2022 and 2023. Finishing among the top-20 defensive tackles in sacks, McNeill's contributions as a pass rusher were also important for a unit that is struggling to find a complement to star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson. With each of McNeill and Hutchinson under contract in 2024 alongside a strong group of linebackers, the Lions defense, at a minimum, is returning the key pieces that made it an elite run defense in 2023.
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Lions' Alim McNeill: Questionable for Sunday vs. Vikes
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McNeill (knee) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game versus the Vikings.
McNeill was a limited participant at practice all week, so his availability for Week 18 seems close to a coin-flip proposition. If he can't play Sunday, it will probably mean more snaps for rookie third-rounder Brodric Martin.
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Lions' Alim McNeill: Moves to IR
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McNeill (knee) was placed on injured reserve Tuesday.
McNeill's move to IR is a bit surprising, as head coach Dan Campbell only referred to the NC State product as, "a little banged up," after Sunday's win over the Saints. However, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, McNeill suffered a sprained knee in the contest. The 23-year-old will miss at least the next four weeks, while Pelissero noted he could be ready for the playoffs.
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Lions' Alim McNeill: Working with starters
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McNeill is seeing the majority of first-team reps at nose tackle during the opening days of training camp, Justin Rogers of the Detroit News reports.
A third-round pick out of NC State who graded out as PFF's highest-graded run defender in the country in 2020, McNeill has reportedly impressed veteran teammates with both his strength and quickness. While head coach Dan Campbell admitted the rookie is partly getting so many reps with the first team because of John Penisini's return from shoulder surgery, McNeill has a considerably more explosive profile than the 2020 sixth-rounder and it should only be a matter of time before McNeill is entrenched with the starting defense.
