The Detroit Lions are close to getting star defensive tackle Alim McNeill back.
McNeill suffered a torn ACL last December and has been working his way back ever since. He started the season on the physically unable to perform list, which forced him to miss the first four games, but he is now eligible to return.
On Monday, head coach Dan Campbell revealed that the team could open his 21-day window this week. On Tuesday, Campbell took it a step further and said that the Lions are hoping to get McNeill into a game by the team's bye week.
The Lions' bye is in Week 8.
First things first, the Lions will have to designate McNeill to return from the PUP list, and from there they will have 21 days to activate him.
#Lions’ Dan Campbell tells @costaandjansen that they’re trying to get DT Alim McNeill (torn ACL) back before the bye week, but “we’re not gonna say for sure.”
— Eric Woodyard (@E_Woodyard) September 30, 2025
Detroit will start the 21-day practice window for McNeill this week.
“Let’s just see where he’s at,” Campbell said.
We would assume the Lions will use at least one of those weeks before unleashing McNeill, but it wouldn't be shocking to see them use all of that time, either.
“We’re close on Mac,” Campbell said Monday, according to Pride of Detroit's Jeremy Reisman. “There’s a good chance we may start Mac’s clock this week. That’s good.
"We’re just — we want to make sure we check all those boxes before we say that’s what we’re going to do for sure. But it’s trending the right way. Mac’s — he’s about ready to go, and I think he’s tired of training.”
Assuming he's at least close to being himself (that isn't always the case with players coming back from such an injury), getting McNeill back will be a significant boost to Detroit's run defense and pass rush.
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