DT McNeill: ‘I notice a difference’ from weight loss
Alim McNeill overhauled his diet and reshaped his body this spring, and the third-year Detroit Lions defensive tackle is reaping the rewards from those changes now.
“I feel like I am seeing the time and the work that I put in,” McNeill said Monday. “But still haven’t done nothing. It’s still very early. We have a lot more season, a lot more games, a lot more plays to make. But I am seeing it. I notice a difference on the field, just watching myself personally.”
McNeill has two sacks among seven tackles through four games and has been one of the most consistent players on a Lions defense that ranks fourth in the NFL in yards allowed.
He looks quicker, thanks to his weight loss. He’s playing more three technique this season in a change that began last fall. And along with already matching his career-high in sacks, he has emerged as the anchor of the league’s stingiest run defense at 60.8 yards per game.
“(His presence has) been big, it really has,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said. “We don’t take that for granted and I think some of what you’re seeing, I feel like it’s really — (Aidan Hutchinson) is disruptive you feel like every week. You can see how just he’s relentless in his craft and what he’s able to do. But I feel like it’s really coming even more to light because of Mac, too. Mac being able to be a force inside is making a difference.”
McNeill dropped 22 pounds this summer after cutting most red meat and candy out of his diet and by taking a more wholesome approach to healthy living. He’s more conscious about getting enough sleep and managing his hydration, and he said he spent the summer honing his technique, too.
This summer, McNeill attended a defensive line summit run by defensive line guru Pete Jenkins, now an assistant at LSU. Former Lions Michael Brockers and Nick Williams also attended the summit, and McNeill said working out with those and other pros gave him the chance to bounce ideas off and learn from more seasoned vets.
“I learned a lot actually that obviously carried over with me to the season,” McNeill said. “Not to get into specifics, cause there was actually a lot I learned, just different things. Hand placement, different type of steps you can take, different stances, reading different things. Stuff like that.”
One area in particular McNeill said he’s improved is his punch step, his first step off the line when he strikes an offensive lineman with force.
Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes said McNeill’s dominance has contributed to his strong start to the season.
“Everybody knew he could be a star in this league and just having him up front, knowing you’re protected as a linebacker, that’s a guy you want to play in front of you and he’s going to continue to progress,” Barnes said. “He shocked guys last game, he’s going to continue to shock people so I’m excited for this journey for him.”
Moseley set to return
Cornerback Emmanuel Moseley is trending towards making his Lions debut Sunday against the Carolina Panthers after missing the past four weeks with a hamstring injury.
Moseley pulled his hamstring in his first week of practice in September after returning from offseason knee surgery.
He is expected to start at cornerback eventually, though Campbell indicated Jerry Jacobs will retain that job for now.
“He’s another guy we’d like to see if we can get going this week,” Campbell said. “There again, if he does, he’s a guy that we don’t feel like it’ll be smart to play him 60 plays, either. But he’s certainly somebody that we feel like, all right, let’s get a look at this week, we feel like the time’s right and he’ll get a little bit. Jerry’ll still certainly would take the load, but I think the plan is to get E-Man worked in.”
Injury update
Campbell said he thinks left tackle Taylor
Decker will be good to play this week against the Carolina Panthers after playing through a high ankle sprain last week against the Green Bay Packers, but he said it’s too early to know about the status of defensive backs Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph.
Branch injured his ankle in the third quarter of the Lions’ win over the Packers, returned at the start of the fourth quarter only to aggravate the injury and leave again Joseph has missed two straight games with a hip injury, but was listed as questionable on the Lions’ injury report last week.
“I can’t really give you one way or the other,” Campbell said. “I think Deck will be OK and it’s hard to say with the other guys.”
Outside linebacker Julian Okwara returned to practice Monday, starting his 21-day practice window to return from injured reserve.
Okwara injured his arm in the Lions’ preseason finale against the Carolina Panthers and spent the first four weeks of the regular season on IR.
Okwara, 25, was considered on the roster bubble at the time of his injury, but could earn a backup role once ready for game action.
Okwara has never played more than 13 games in a season because of injury. He had two sacks in 10 games last season and a careerhigh five sacks in 2021. He was the No. 67 overall pick by the Lions in 2020.
The Lions have until Oct. 23 to activate Okwara to their 53-man roster, cut him or put him on IR for the rest of the season.
The Lions also re-signed receiver Trey Quinn to the practice squad Monday, and received a roster exemption for Jameson Williams in his return from suspension. Williams could make his season debut Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.