“Things That We Prepared For”: Detroit Lions GM Discusses Injuries to Levi Onwuzurike and Josh Paschal

Brad Holmes, the general manager of the Detroit Lions through two draught seasons, hasn’t been afraid to take a chance on players who have a history of injuries. Particularly in the second round, that is true.

DL Levi Onwuzurike was chosen by Holmes and the Detroit Lions in 2021 from Washington. Josh Paschal of Kentucky was the DE this year. The Detroit Lions have observed their previous two second-round choices sitting on the sidelines in sweatpants for most of their first training camps.

Detroit Lions
Credits: Lions Wire

The second-round pick from last year, Levi Onwuzurike, missed most of both his first and second training camps due to back problems. Josh Paschal, the 46th overall pick in the April draft, missed training camp due to an operation for a sports hernia.

Detroit Lions GM Brad Holmes admits the team is ready for a slow start due to injuries

Josh Paschal underwent surgery to treat a sports hernia he developed in college, and he will be sidelined for at least the first four weeks. Since August 1, Levi Onwuzurike has been out with a back ailment, and it looks like he will miss at least the first game as well. Brad Holmes stated that none of the young defensive linemen’s sluggish starts shocked the squad. The Detroit Lions GM, for the second year, even admitted that Onwuzurike performed better than anticipated in Year 1.

“We’re not kicking ourselves,” Holmes said, via the Detroit Free Press.

“We’re not saying, ‘Oh, we overlooked this or that.’ It was just things that we were prepared for.”

Of course, Detroit Lions GM Holmes has selected other injured players besides the second-round picks. The Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams, who will be out for at least four weeks while he recovers from knee surgery in January, was the prize of his first-round trade.

Despite not being fully recovered from a knee injury that kept him out of Virginia Tech’s last collegiate season, fifth-round tight end James Mitchell is expected to participate in Week 1.

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