Dan Campbell Hints At When Alim McNeill Will Make Season Debut
The Detroit Lions’ defense has already proven it can win games in different ways, but reinforcements might be on the way soon. Head coach Dan Campbell confirmed Tuesday morning on
That’s encouraging news for a Lions defensive line that has already leaned heavily on
Possible Return Against Chiefs or Bucs
Campbell didn’t put a firm date on McNeill’s return but pointed toward two possible landing spots: next week’s road matchup against the
“No guarantee,” Campbell emphasized, but the fact that McNeill is trending toward being back within the next two weeks is a positive sign after missing time.
“I think we’re gonna see if we can do that.” Campbell said when asked if Alim would make his debut before the bye.” Really, so much of it is about, What does he look like? How does he feel? I think it would be nice to be that if we could, but we’re not gonna, you know, say for sure, like, ‘all right, this is when you’re playing. There’s no doubt about it.’ Let’s just see where he’s at.”
Why McNeill Matters
Detroit’s run defense has been solid, but McNeill’s presence in the middle is a game-changer. At 6-foot-2 and nearly 320 pounds, he eats up double teams and helps free up linebackers like
The Lions are also about to hit a crucial stretch of the schedule. A road trip to Arrowhead is always a test, and the Bucs’ offense is built on trying to establish balance. Having McNeill back for either, or both, games could tilt the matchup.
The Big Picture
The Lions have already proven their depth, with young guys like Williams holding their own while veterans like Hutchinson continue to shine. But make no mistake, Campbell and defensive coordinator
If things go according to plan, Lions fans could see No. 54 clogging the middle sooner rather than later.
Vikings’ $18 Million Starter Facing Calls to Retire Amid Health Concerns
Minnesota Vikings starting center Ryan Kelly is at a career crossroads amid his 10th season in the NFL that could have him considering hanging it up for good.
Signed to a two-year, $18 million deal as part of the team’s overhaul of the offensive line in the offseason, Kelly sustained his second concussion in three games during a Week 4 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
But his history with concussions is much more than this season. Since the 2023 season, Kelly has been diagnosed with five concussions.
Asked how many concussions he’s had in his entire playing career after his second concussion during the 2023 season, Kelly said “five or six.” That puts him at seven or eight by his count.
Many Vikings observers have expressed concern that Kelly needs to consider his long-term health and consider retirement, including Purple Insider’s Matthew Coller who made a strong plea on his postgame show after the Steelers loss.
“He just had a concussion two weeks ago. I am not a doctor, I am not evaluating him, I am not his family member. Retire,” Coller said. “This has got to be it. One of the best players of the decade. Phenomenal center. The games he was in, I was so impressed… Talked to him a handful of times. Incredibly smart dude, incredibly impessive person. Every person you talk to loves Ryan Kelly. Retire.”
Vikings C Ryan Kelly Addresses Potential Retirement After Concussion History With Colts
During the 2023 season, Kelly addressed the concerns with his health after he was diagnosed with a second concussion in Week 12 of the Indianapolis Colts‘ season.
“Yeah, you become 30 and you start thinking about things,’’ Kelly said in December 2023. “If it’s between playing football and when I’m 60 having dementia and all these things you see that can come from playing football, of course I’m going to look after myself and my family.
“It’s hard seeing some of these (retired) guys now. You have to be aware of your quality of life later.’’
The No. 18 overall pick of the 2016 draft, Kelly sustained his first concussion as a pro during the 2017 season and missed five games due to the head injury. The other two concussions he sustained during the 2023 season weren’t enough to keep him from earning his fourth Pro Bowl nod — but his livelihood after football is in jeopardy if he suffers any more head trauma.
“It certainly puts a seed of doubt in your mind,’’ Kelly said after his second concussion in 2023. “It’s a violent game and you’ve been playing it for a long time. Things add up.
“You can replace a knee and you can replace a hip,’’ “You’re not replacing your brain. I’ll try to play the game as long as I can. I’ll go out there and give everything I’ve got. If ultimately I have more concussions, I’ll make a decision then, whatever that is.’’
Kevin O’Connell Addresses Ryan Kelly’s Future
GettyJ.J. McCarthy #9 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates with Brian O’Neill #75 and Ryan Kelly #78 after a touchdown in the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on September 08, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.
The situation with Kelly is looking dire, and head coach Kevin O’Connell did not shrug off the concerns facing the Pro Bowl center.
“The health of our players is always the beginning, the end, and the middle of that conversation,” O’Connell said in his postgame news conference.
“So we’ll totally defer to the doctors and we’ll defer to the protocol. And then ultimately, we’re gonna want to make sure Ryan’s in a good place. That’s not anything I particularly ever want to mess around with, so we’ll be smart. Definitely not my lane to weigh in on those things until we get to that place.”
