Detroit Lions defensive tackle Alim McNeill has already come back from his 2024 ACL tear, playing ten games last season.
Yet, this season feels like his true long-awaited return from that injury.
McNeill's return last season was rough, as the former All-Pro contender was beginning to look like a negative asset on defense. His four-year contract extension, which he had just signed prior to his 2024 injury, was becoming an albatross, and his future with the team appeared to be in doubt.
This year has been a different story, as his defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard can hardly contain his excitement for McNeill when speaking to the media on Thursday:
"I'm so excited for that player. When I say it, it's almost emotional because I know what he wanted to be last year -- and he just couldn't...He just couldn't. A lot of that tape he couldn't put his foot in the ground and plant, but he was still out there for his brothers. So I'm just telling you, right here, September 13, I cannot wait to see number 54."
It was clear last season that McNeill wasn't his usual self. Knowing that he struggled to plant his foot adds greater context to those struggles. Footwork is extremely important regardless of the position played, but for a player on the defensive line, it's needed for balance, power, mobility, speed, and explosiveness.
McNeill was lacking in those areas last season, and the driving force behind his hype train this offseason is that it appears he's regained much of those traits now that can really plant his feet again.
This healthier version of McNeill will be slotted into a D-line that gave up only 55.33 rushing yards per game in the preseason. By comparison, the Jacksonville Jaguars, who led the league last season in fewest rushing yards per game given up (85.59), gave up a similar 86.33 yards in the preseason. Take away the 147 rushing yards they gave up to the Carolina Panthers, and that average improves to 56 yards -- slightly more than the Lions' defense.
"O Captain, my Captain!"
The excitement surrounding McNeill in 2026 isn't just for show, despite "best shape of his life" type of hype quotes being prevalent in camp and preseason. This excitement has genuine weight to it, and that was made plain when it was revealed that McNeill was named as one of the defensive captains entering Week 1.
McNeill said he was "thankful" when asked about the team honor on Tuesday, adding, "It means a lot. It means you put in the work and the guys trust me as one of their leading teammates, and I'm going to take that role on."
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McNeill, a first time captain, said the honor has "amped" him up even more, and has given him greater motivation to live up to the expectations that come with being a captain.
McNeill is about to get his first shot to put that hard offseason work and recovery into practice this Sunday, when we, like Sheppard, will all be excited "to see number 54" back in action.
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