Could the Detroit Lions reunite with defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh?
The Lions signed veteran defensive lineman Tyson Alualu this week, which had many Detroit fans wondering why the team didn’t merely bring back Suh, who spent the first five seasons of his career in the Motor City between 2010 and 2014.
When asked about the situation, head coach Dan Campbell said the team knows exactly what it is doing.
“Yeah, listen, Brad’s [Holmes] looked at all of it,” Campbell said, referencing general manager Brad Holmes (via the Lions’ official YouTube account). “We haven’t overlooked anybody.”
Suh has not played with anyone this season. He last appeared with the Philadelphia Eagles last year, playing in eight games and logging 10 tackles and a sack in helping the Eagles reach the Super Bowl.
The 37-year-old, who played his collegiate football at the University of Nebraska, was originally selected by the Lions with the second overall pick of the 2010 NFL Draft.
Suh made the Pro Bowl in four of his five seasons in Detroit and also earned a pair of First-Team All-Pro selections. His best year came during his rookie campaign, when he racked up 66 tackles, 10 sacks, an interception, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a defensive touchdown.
Following his tenure with the Lions, Suh linked up with the Miami Dolphins, where he spent three relatively disappointing seasons. He then joined the Los Angeles Rams for one season and then made his way to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he won a Super Bowl during the 2020-21 campaign. He spent three years in Tampa Bay.
While Ndamukong Suh is no longer the same dominant force he was when he was younger, he can almost certainly still help a contending team. But apparently, the Lions did not feel he would be the right fit at this current point in time.
Detroit is 9-3 and will take on the New Orleans Saints this Sunday.