With the new season underway, the Detroit Lions are rolling with confidence, looking ahead to make last year’s dismal season a distant memory. While Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes have boosted the squad with some key offseason additions, some depth options in various positions have stepped in during the preseason games, and one of them is the defensive end Ahmed Hassanein.
The 24-year-old had a night to remember in the Lions’ first preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals on August 13. Even though his team lost the game, he gave a convincing performance that could go a long way toward securing a spot on the final roster late this month.
On that note, Hassanein had a cryptic message on social media that could offer a glimpse of his future with the Lions, as he enters his second season in the Motor City.
“DIFFERENT THIS TIME AROUND. ALL GOD” wrote Hassanein on Instagram, posting a series of recent pictures from his time with the Lions.
He was waived right before the start of the regular season last year with an injury settlement. However, he is completely healthy heading into his sophomore year, remaining optimistic after his brilliant preseason display.
Ahmed Hassanein Building Momentum With Impressive Preseason
Ahmed Hassanein dominated the preseason opener against the Bengals, winning the Lions’ Player of the Game award. He, however, took a backseat against the Commanders last Saturday, giving other roster players a chance to be battle-tested.
He stood out after sacking the Bengals’ star QB Joe Burrow, making it one of the biggest moments of his young football career. Playing primarily with a second-team unit, he managed to create consistent pressure throughout his time in the middle against the Bengals’ backup O-Line. The 24-year-old logged 4 total tackles, 2 sacks, 2 TFLs, and 3 QB hits, earning an impressive 89.9 grade from Pro Football Focus, which was the highest grade of any player from either franchise.
After his explosive breakout performance in the season opener, the pass rusher’s game reps were limited when the Lions went head-to-head against the Commanders. The coaching staff evaluated other defensive end options like Derrick Moore, D.J. Wonnum, and Eric O’Neill, keeping the depth options in check.
Given Hassanein’s momentum at the moment and amid the battle for the 53-man roster spot, this year could certainly be ‘different’ for the former sixth -round pick. With one preseason game still left, he is likely to have some game time against the Indianapolis Colts, and he could play a big role in Kelvin Sheppard’s defensive plan.
Why This Year Could Be ‘Different’ For Ahmed Hassanein
A pectoral injury disrupted his rookie season with the Lions, but Hassanein is healthy this season with remarkable training camp and preseason under his belt. Other than that, Sheppard is playing him in his natural position in 2026. Last year, the pass rusher played at rush end, but now he is given the responsibility at the big end spot, where he has shown plenty of potential already.
GettyLions edge rusher Ahmed Hassanein
Besides working on his skills on the gridiron, the DE has worked on excelling mentally, which has shown in his recent social media posts, meaning he is locked in to make a mark this time around. Upon securing a place on the final roster, he is likely to be a dependable backup option to someone like D.J. Wonnum as a big end from Week 1.
Lions Second-Year Star Drops Intriguing Message Amid 53-Man Roster Battle