ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — The Detroit Lions have decided to make defensive tackle Alim McNeill their latest investment, retaining a key player with a long-term deal.
“Fired up for Mac, he earned that,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said Wednesday. “He’s a pivotal piece for us.”
McNeill signed a $97 million, four-year contract extension, according to a person familiar with the situation. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the terms had not been announced.
“The timing was crazy,” said McNeill, who wasn’t expecting a deal to get done this week.
Detroit (4-1) plays NFC North-leading Minnesota (5-0) on the road Sunday in a potentially pivotal game in the division race and for playoff positioning. The Lions won the NFC North last season, their first division title in three decades.
McNeill joined quarterback Jared Goff, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and offensive tackle Penei Sewell as players to land a contract extension this year.
“He’s one of our pillars here,” Campbell said. “No different than the guys we signed back.”
Lions general manager Brad Holmes drafted McNeill in the third round — No. 72 overall — in 2021 out of N.C. State and he has become one of the league’s top defensive tackles.
McNeill matched a career high with two sacks in a 47-9 rout at Dallas on Sunday. He had five sacks last season, the most by an interior defensive lineman for the Lions since Ndamukong Suh had 8 1/2 sacks in 2014.
Detroit needs McNeill to deliver now more than ever.
“We know we have to step up,” he said.
Aidan Hutchinson was put on injured reserve Tuesday, recovering from a surgically repaired broken leg that is expected to keep him off the field for at least four months. Hutchinson leads the league with 7 1/2 sacks and has 28 1/2 career sacks over 39 games in two-plus seasons.
The Lions also put defensive tackle Kyle Peko on injured reserve and signed defensive end Isaiah Thomas off Cincinnati’s practice squad.
“Peko has been one of those silent producers for us,” Campbell said. “We’re going to miss him, too.”
Thomas had nine tackles in 10 games for the Cleveland Browns two years ago and had a season-ending knee injury in 2023. The Browns drafted Thomas out of Oklahoma in 2022 with a seventh-round pick, which was acquired from Detroit as part of a trade for quarterback David Blough.
Campbell said Holmes will not be in a rush to make a major move to acquire a highly productive defensive end.
“Brad’s on it, he’s looking at everything,” Campbell said. “Nothing’s off the table, but we’re just not in a hurry.”
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