4 potential options for Detroit Lions to replace John Cominsky

2. Breeland Sparks

In the wake of Cominsky's injury, Mike Payton of AtoZ Sports quickly reported that Sparks wanted to find a way to get into camp with the Lions as he eyes signing with an NFL team. Payton's source offered the following quote when asked if the Lions are his top choice.

"Detroit for sure. He fell in love with Michigan fan base."

Sparks played for the Michigan Panthers in the UFL this spring, tallying 9.5 sacks on his way to winning the league's Defensive Player of the Year. He has had reported interest from the Tennessee Titans and the Carolina Panthers, and Payton's report from Tuesday said one team that has had discussions with Sparks is still talking to him and he had visit there this week.

Sparks has some NFL experience. He was drafted in the second round of the 2018 draft by the Kansas City Chiefs, playing in 16 games and starting four as a rookie. He has not played an NFL regular season game since though, spending time with the Raiders, Cowboys, Giants, Bills and 49ers from their through final roster cuts in 2023.

After signing Panthers kicker Jake Bates, the Lions could go back to the UFL well here.

Lawson had a pretty rough 2023 season for the Buffalo Bills, coming in as PFF's 107th-graded edge rusher out of 112 qualifiers (one sack over 321 defensive snaps. But overall he's been a solid pass rusher over the course of his career, with alignment versatility as a defensive end and an edge rusher.

1. Levi Onwuzurike

The top internal option takes the top spot. Onwuzurike has had an excellent start to training camp, building off a strong run during OTAs in just the way Dan Campbell noted he needed to back then.

Onwuzurike has been getting work with the first and second-team defenses, out on the edge and inside as a three-technique. Campbell quickly mentioned the former second-round pick as an option to replace Cominsky on Wednesday morning (h/t to Nolan Bianchi of the Detroit News).

"Levi looks healthy and it's the healthiest he's been since he's been here, and he's coming on," Campbell said. "This started in the spring, we kind of mentioned him. He's earned it."
"It's clear that he's been one of the best (players on the defensive line). I mean, it's just clear. He plays with violence, he's stout, he's fundamentally better than he's ever been, and he's shown that he has some versatility," Campbell said. "Between the big end in base and three-technique, he can play some big end in sub, in nickel, and he's just earned it. He continues to go, he feels good, so he's in a good place."

So far, Onwuzurike has done everything he needs to do to assert himself as he leaves past back issues behind him. In the wake of Cominsky's unfortunate injury, opportunity is now knocking even louder.