After a devastating loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Detroit Lions fans need optimism like they need air to breathe. Detroit’s defense looked non-existent in the week 15 loss as they allowed a staggering 48 points. Despite the ugly performance defensively, it’s not the loss that has Lions fans panicked. Detroit lost a lot more than a football game on Sunday.

Alim McNeil, who you can not replace in December, is done for the year with a torn ACL. McNeil’s injury adds to an already long list of names that are out for Detroit’s decimated defensive line. The injury news of Charlton Davis and David Montgomery were both shocking and unexpected. Davis suffered a broken jaw that will sideline him for the rest of the regular season. He does have a shot to come back in the NFC Championship game if Detroit makes it that far. Montgomery suffered a torn MCL that will require surgery, ending his season prematurely. Fortunately, Montgomery avoided an ACL injury, meaning he’ll be ready to go for the start of the 2025 season.

Thankfully, I do have some good news and some optimism for Lions fans. Detroit could be getting a key defender back this weekend.

Ifeatu Melifonwu returning to practice

The Lions desperately needed this. One of the staggering 16 injured defenders is making his return. Ifeatu Melifonwu was injured for a good portion of the first half of last season. He came back and played at a high level. Melifonwu was a breakout player last year and he is going to add a much needed boost to not just the Lions secondary, but the Lions pass rush as well.

Melifonwu had two interceptions last season, one on Monday Night Football, and the other against the Minnesota Vikings which won the Lions their first division title in 30 years.

Along with those two INT’s, Melifonwu had five QB hits, three sacks, four tackles for loss, and a forced fumble. He only started in six games in the regular last year. Keep in mind, Melifonwu also recorded 2.5 sacks in the playoffs for the Lions, bringing his total to 5.5.

With the season-ending injuries that Davis and Khalil Dorsey suffered this past weekend, the timing could not be better than right now for Detroit to get a key player back in the secondary. The Lions pass rush had already been struggling and losing Alim McNeil for the season isn’t doing them any favors. Expect the return of Melifonwu to add a new element to Detroit’s pass rush.

Dan Campbell said he will have him practice, try to get him up to speed, and he will make a decision on whether or not he should play Sunday on the road against the Bears.