The Detroit Lions are officially in offseason mode as the rest of the NFL world is gearing up to watch the impending clash between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX.
As is the nature of professional sports, the Lions squad that hits the field for their Week 1 matchup for the 2026 NFL season will look different than the roster that departed Soldier Field in triumph after their season-ending win over the rival Chicago Bears.
While the Lions have already lost veteran Dan Skipper to retirement and could very well lose Taylor Decker as well, they’re bringing back two key defensive figures.
Defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike and defensive end Josh Paschal will both be back with the team next season, thanks to a little-known provision in the collective bargaining agreement.
As you remember, Onwuzurike was re-signed by the Lions in March, but didn’t appear in a single game this past season because of a torn ACL. Meanwhile, Paschal also missed the entire campaign after having undergone back surgery. Because he was never activated from the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list following a 21-day practice window that expired in late November, he was ruled ineligible for the rest of the season.
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A Little-Known CBA Rule Results In The Detroit Lions Retaining Both Levi Onwuzurike And Josh Paschal
For those who were unaware, the following stipulations in the current CBA are what allow the Lions to retain both Onwuzurike and Paschal, neither of whom played this most recent season.
“Any player placed on a Physically Unable to Perform list (“PUP”) will be paid his full Paragraph 5 Salary while on such list. His contract will not be tolled for the period he is on PUP, except in the last year of his contract, when the player’s contract will be tolled if (i) he is still physically unable to perform his football services as of the sixth regular season game; and (ii) he is not reinstated to the Club’s Active/Inactive List during that regular season or postseason. For the avoidance of doubt, if the player returns to practice, but is never reinstated to the Club’s Active/Inactive List during that regular season or postseason, his contract will toll.”
“A player on N-F/I who is in the final year of his contract (including an option year) will have his contract tolled. However, if the player is physically able to perform his football services on or before the sixth regular season game, the Club must pay the player his negotiated Paragraph 5 Salary (pro rata) for the balance of the season in order to toll such player’s contract. If such player is taken off N-F/I during the period when such action is allowed by League rules, his contract will not be tolled.”
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Neither Levi Onwuzurike Or Josh Paschal Played Last Season
The Lions lost Onwuzurike to a torn ACL before the season even began; in the 2024 season, he racked up 28 tackles and 45 quarterback pressures while playing 635 total snaps. He appeared in 16 games, starting 10 of them.
Meanwhile, Paschal has played in 36 games (starting 18 of them) in his three seasons in Detroit so far.
Little-Known CBA Rule Has Given The Detroit Lions A Major Advantage