Detroit Lions place DT Alim McNeill on IR amid flurry of roster moves

It looked bad when he banged legs with Aidan Hutchinson in last Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints, and on Monday head coach Dan Campbell confirmed it.

"Mac’s a little banged up,” Campbell said. “We’ll know more on him probably in I would say a couple of days. So, there’s a chance he may not be up (this week) either.”

Seemingly in preparation for McNeill to miss time, perhaps multiple games, it was reported the Lions were signing veteran defensive tackle Tyson Alualu on Tuesday.

Later in the day, the team announced McNeill was going on injured reserve. NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported his injury is a knee sprain, and is not necessarily going end his season. Justin Rogers of the Detroit News had a similar report.

In other roster moves, the Lions have signed cornerback Kindle Vildor to the active roster from the practice squad, and edge rusher Raymond Johnson was released from the practice squad. Alualu was officially signed to the practice squad, along with offensive lineman Matt Farniok.

Lions place defensive tackle Alim McNeill on IR

Being placed on IR of course means McNeill will miss at least the next four games. The earliest he could return is the regular season finale against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 18.

McNeill is having the third-year breakout he prepared all last offseason to have as the Lions' primary 3-technique. He is second on the team with five sacks and 33 pressures, while earning high-level grades from Pro Football Focus as a pass rusher and a run defender. There's no way to replace him, but the Lions are left to try to do it for some tough upcoming games.

Four defensive tackles are left on the Lions' active roster with McNeill out-Benito Jones, Levi Onwuzurike, Isaiah Buggs and Brodric Martin. Quinton Bohanna has played the last three games as a practice squad elevation, and now if he's going to play again he'll have to be signed to the active roster. As the only other 3-technique on the roster besides McNeill, Onwuzurike is in line to start next to Jones.