The Detroit Lions might be getting a big boost in the trenches this weekend, or they might have to wait a little longer.
On Friday, head coach Dan Campbell gave an update on defensive tackle Alim McNeill, who just returned to practice this week after recovering from a torn ACL. While McNeill has been working through limited reps, Campbell admitted his status for Sunday’s matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals is still very much up in the air.
“We’ve talked about it. I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t know, man,” Campbell said as quoted by Pride of Detroit. “I think right now, it’s probably 50/50. I know he wants to play, but we want to be smart, too. So this’ll be one of those decisions we’ll probably make after practice.”
McNeill’s return window officially opened Wednesday, and the Lions have been gradually increasing his workload in practice. Campbell explained that the coaching staff and sports science team are monitoring both the data and how McNeill feels physically before making a call.
“We got a lot of data on him right now,” Campbell added. “Certainly, what he says, how does he feel? What’s his comfort level? Confidence? But also being smart with it. We kind of worked him in on Wednesday, and he got a lot more reps yesterday, and today he’s going to get more reps, but it won’t be near as many.”
The Lions would love to have McNeill back to help anchor their defensive line, but it sounds like the decision will come down to how he responds after Friday’s session.
For now, it’s a true game-time decision, 50/50, whether the Lions get one of their defensive leaders back on the field in Cincinnati.
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