Getty Ndamukong Suh
The Detroit Lions added another veteran defensive lineman, this time to the interior of the defensive line, with 36-year-old Tyson Alualu. But some Lions fans probably would have preferred the team bring back free agent Ndamukong Suh.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell addressed the possibility of signing Suh in front of reporters on December 6.
“Yeah, listen, Brad’s [Holmes] looked at all of it,” Campbell told the media. “We haven’t overlooked anybody.
“We looked at everybody. At this moment, we’ve made the decision we feel like was best for us.”
The Lions drafted Suh, who turns 37 in January, at No. 2 overall in 2010. In five seasons with the Lions, Suh made first-team All-Pro three times and four Pro Bowls.
Last season, he played eight games for the Philadelphia Eagles, posting 10 combined tackles, 2 quarterback hits and 1 sack.
But rather than Suh, the Lions added Alualu to the practice squad on December 5. Detroit also signed 36-year-old defensive end Bruce Irvin on November 16.
Lions Sign Tyson Alualu to Potentially Replace Alim McNeill
A few hours after signing Alualu, the Lions placed defensive tackle Alim McNeill on injured reserve because of a sprained knee.
McNeill was in the middle of a breakout year in his third NFL season. He has 5 sacks, 6 tackles for loss and 9 quarterback hits in 12 games.
In his first two seasons combined, McNeill had 3 sacks, 9 tackles for loss, and 10 quarterback hits in 34 contests.
“Losing Mac for these four weeks is going to be tough because he’s been a reliable, steady, productive player for us. He’s really come into his own this year,” Campbell told reporters on December 6. “He’s just grown every year, but this year, he was big. He was a force for us.
“So that hurts, but at the same token, this train moves on.”
The train will potentially move on with Alualu contributing as a replacement to McNeill.
As the Lions did with Irvin, who just made his team debut in Week 13, Campbell described that the team plans to work Alualu back into football shape while he’s on the practice squad. Then in a couple of weeks, they will determine whether to activate Alualu for a game.
“He brings the floor. He brings stability,” Campbell said of Alualu. “You kind of know what you’re going to get, exactly what you’re going to get, and that gives us comfort.
“He’s got a little versatility to him. There again, he’s an addition to the roster. Once we get him to where we feel like ‘All right, he’s in game shape or he’s ready to do that,’ then we’ll make a decision. Let’s see if he can help us.”
In Week 14 against the Chicago Bears, Levi Onwuzurike, Isaiah Buggs and Brodric Martin are expected to see more playing time in McNeill’s absence.
Could the Lions Sign DT Ndamukong Suh?
Campbell didn’t necessary quash rumors about the Lions signing Suh. But he made it clear that the team considered Alualu the best free agent option.
Unless the Lions sustain another injury at defensive tackle, it seems unlikely they will add Suh on top of Alualu.
Detroit now has two 36-year-old defensive linemen, so signing a third veteran at that age probably won’t be considered unless it’s absolutely necessary.
In five seasons with the Lions, Suh posted 36 sacks, 66 tackles for loss and 98 quarterback hits. He also had 15 pass defenses and 2 forced fumbles in 78 games.
For now, Lions fans will have to continue remembering those memories fondly rather than see Suh back in the blue and silver.