As Ndamukong Suh surveys his options, it doesn’t make much sense for him to return to the Detroit Lions.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers ended the idea they’d bring Ndamukong Suh back when they signed Akiem Hicks as the calendar flipped to June. The former Lions defensive tackle remains available, with the next thing on the NFL calendar the start of training camps next month.
At 35 years old now, Suh remains an effective and durable player. There have been no signs he wants to retire, and on Monday he confirmed as much via ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
And @NdamukongSuh on ESPN2’s NFL Live, on where he might be in the future: “It looks like the Bucs are out of the picture.”
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 20, 2022
But Suh did say he would like to continue playing.
Suh followed by noting a team he thought could be “fun.”
Raiders could be fun https://t.co/WfZZbWQf9P
— Ndamukong Suh (@NdamukongSuh) June 21, 2022
Visions of Suh possibly returning to the Lions have been a mix of intriguing and strained. Any possible issues in his previous relationship with the organization are long gone with a newer regime in place. So it would come down to his options, whether he would even consider Detroit and if the Lions have any interest.
Ndamukong Suh is not coming back to the Detroit Lions
At his age, with a Super Bowl ring and another appearance in the Super Bowl on his resume, Suh surely would prioritize contenders for his new team. The Lions are on a good track, but they are not in that category this year.
Naturally, has rounded up by Heavy.com, Lions’ fans are in on the idea the team needs and should pursue Suh in light of his declaration he wants to keep playing.
@Lions this should be the top priority if we are planning on going to the playoffs with Jared Goff. We need a dominate leader on defense to help get our young dangerous core across the finish line. #OnePride raise your 🤚🏾 if you want @NdamukongSuh home in Detroit. https://t.co/KsY5rtIMOi
— 🦁 Brad Villain Holmes Honolulu Blue Kool-aid 🦁 (@DumasMike) June 20, 2022
@NdamukongSuh suh please come back to the lions you are the missing piece to our defensive line
— Joshua Ridgeway (@JoshuaRidgewa18) June 20, 2022
Suh had the most productive years of his career with the Lions, with four of his five Pro Bowl appearances and all three of his First Team All-Pro nods over five seasons in Detroit. In the latter years of his career team success has come easier with the Rams and Buccaneers, while he has remained a key piece.
Suh comes off as the kind of player Dan Campbell would want, and he would be another veteran leader (along with Michael Brockers) for a young defensive line.
Unless he’s playing for a team who’s playing the Lions, the next time Suh is at Ford Field will be when his No. 90 is put in the Lions’ Ring of Honor. Not when he’s in uniform for the home team again.