The Detroit Lions have elevated a rookie edge rusher for their Week 6 game against the Dallas Cowboys.
The Detroit Lions announced on Saturday afternoon that rookie defensive lineman Isaac Ukwu is being temporarily elevated from the practice squad this week. He’ll be part of the active squad and is eligible to play this Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys. After the game, he will revert back to the practice squad.
Ukwu was part of the Lions’ undrafted free agent class this year after a strong year at Ole Miss last year. He was a standout during Lions training camp and the preseason. He managed to tally a sack in all three preseason games, but he fell just short of making the team’s initial 53-man squad.
Notably, Ukwu is a possible fill-in for the Lions’ difficult SAM linebacker position. In Week 3, the Lions lost Derrick Barnes for what will likely be the entire season, and Detroit spent the next week toying with a few options at that position. Alex Anzalone, Ben Niemann, and Trevor Nowaske all had some playing time at the SAM against the Seattle Seahawks. Now it appears Ukwu could get a shot this week against the Cowboys.
Coach Dan Campbell was asked on Friday whether Ukwu or Mitchell Agude could get an opportunity to play given Detroit’s injury situation on the edge.
“I would have no problem playing either one of those guys if we need them,” Campbell said.
This is the first elevation for Ukwu this season. Each NFL team has a maximum of three elevations for a practice squad player per season—so Ukwu could be elevated twice more.
That said, as of right now, the Lions still have an open spot on their 53-man roster, but Campbell noted how he likes the flexibility that gives the team.
“It gives us options. I don’t want to say that we’ll necessarily use that or we’re in a hurry to fill that,” Campbell said. “It really has just kind of given us a bit of flexibility right now. It does give us options, but I wouldn’t say we’re necessarily in a hurry to fill that with maybe one of those guys or somebody else right now.”
