
Detroit Lions Podcast post-OTA video mailbag
Detroit Lions Podcast post-OTA video mailbag
Detroit Lions OTAs are over, which makes it a good time for the latest edition of the Detroit Lions Podcast video mailbag.
With this week's minicamp canceled due to the Lions' participation in the Hall of Fame Game, the team is off until late July. The podcast Patreon channel had some questions about the team and the OTAs during the spring, and I did my best to answer them.
Among the topics:
Projecting a starting offensive line, or at least the battles
First impressions of the new coordinators
Undrafted rookie most likely to stick
Outside free agents
As always, an audio-only version of the DLP is available from your favorite podcast provider.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Top 10 injury news of the Lions 2024 season - No. 9: Ifeatu Melifonwu's turbulent season
This 3rd-round pick of the Lions from the 2021 draft traveled a rough road last year with multiple medical speed bumps. The rocky path crashed and burned the high hopes for Ifeatu Melifonwu, who was coming off an impactful second half of the 2023 season when he recorded five sacks and two interceptions. Who can forget this climactic interception on Christmas Eve, 2023, to clinch the NFC North.... Ankle injury The injuries for Melifonwu started early in 2024. He made an appearance in the second preseason game (August 17, 2024) but may have hurt himself during that game. It was not obvious on video when and how that injury occurred. Advertisement Listed afterwards with an ankle injury, there must have been hope that he'd be back soon as he was not placed on IR (injured reserve) immediately. His placement on IR was delayed until after Week 3, which was five weeks post-injury. The IR delay suggests an injury uncertainty or an aggravation. This ankle issue continued to linger for months afterwards until his practice window finally opened on November 6, which was week 10. Due to the extended absence as well as the uncertainty of return, there is suspicion that the ankle injury was more of an Achilles tendon issue. An Achilles tendonitis can have an uncertain recovery because neither the player nor the medical team wants to take any risk that it turns into a full Achilles rupture. This played out notably last year with Christian McCaffrey, who had a prolonged, delayed return from his bilateral Achilles tendonitis. Left hand fracture The setbacks of his season were not over as on November 19, just 13 days into his 21-day practice window for the ankle, he suffered a left hand fracture in practice. He was put back on IR for the second time. First appearance of season On December 15 (week 15), Melifonwu was finally able to make his first appearance of the season vs the Bills. Over the next four games, he played a high snap count on defense ranging from 60-80%. While he did not pick up an interception and had only a single sack, he served a valuable role as a versatile piece in the back-7. Hamstring strain In his fourth game which was the playoff game vs the Commanders, he strained his right hamstring in the 3rd quarter and did not return. The severity of the hamstring is unknown but is not suspected to be serious. Outlook The hamstring and hand fracture are unlikely to be an issue going forward. The mysterious ankle (maybe Achilles?) that took about three months to recover from could be something to watch. Career path Melifonwu finished out his 4-year rookie contract with the Lions and became an unrestricted free agent this offseason. He ended up signing a 1-year contract with the Dolphins that has $2.45 million guaranteed, per-game bonus up to $510,000, and incentives of up to $1 million. While he is young (age 26) and has proven to be an impactful player on the field, his reliability concerns likely created reluctance by the Lions and other teams to give him a long-term deal. This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Top 10 injury news of the Lions 2024 season No. 9: Ifeatu Melifonwu


USA Today
44 minutes ago
- USA Today
Top 10 injury news of the Lions 2024 season - No. 9: Ifeatu Melifonwu's turbulent season
Top 10 injury news of the Lions 2024 season - No. 9: Ifeatu Melifonwu's turbulent season This 3rd-round pick of the Lions from the 2021 draft traveled a rough road last year with multiple medical speed bumps. The rocky path crashed and burned the high hopes for Ifeatu Melifonwu, who was coming off an impactful second half of the 2023 season when he recorded five sacks and two interceptions. Who can forget this climactic interception on Christmas Eve, 2023, to clinch the NFC North.... Ankle injury The injuries for Melifonwu started early in 2024. He made an appearance in the second preseason game (August 17, 2024) but may have hurt himself during that game. It was not obvious on video when and how that injury occurred. Listed afterwards with an ankle injury, there must have been hope that he'd be back soon as he was not placed on IR (injured reserve) immediately. His placement on IR was delayed until after Week 3, which was five weeks post-injury. The IR delay suggests an injury uncertainty or an aggravation. This ankle issue continued to linger for months afterwards until his practice window finally opened on November 6, which was week 10. Due to the extended absence as well as the uncertainty of return, there is suspicion that the ankle injury was more of an Achilles tendon issue. An Achilles tendonitis can have an uncertain recovery because neither the player nor the medical team wants to take any risk that it turns into a full Achilles rupture. This played out notably last year with Christian McCaffrey, who had a prolonged, delayed return from his bilateral Achilles tendonitis. Left hand fracture The setbacks of his season were not over as on November 19, just 13 days into his 21-day practice window for the ankle, he suffered a left hand fracture in practice. He was put back on IR for the second time. Ifeatu Melifonwu L finger splint on Thanksgiving Credit @LadyClemmieUDL — Jimmy Liao MD | Detroit Lions Morning Rounds (@JimmyLiaoMD) December 1, 2024 First appearance of season On December 15 (week 15), Melifonwu was finally able to make his first appearance of the season vs the Bills. Over the next four games, he played a high snap count on defense ranging from 60-80%. While he did not pick up an interception and had only a single sack, he served a valuable role as a versatile piece in the back-7. Hamstring strain In his fourth game which was the playoff game vs the Commanders, he strained his right hamstring in the 3rd quarter and did not return. The severity of the hamstring is unknown but is not suspected to be serious. Ifeatu Melifonwu right hamstring injury video -Didn't return. Led to confusion later in game and 12 men on the field penalty. — Jimmy Liao MD | Detroit Lions Morning Rounds (@JimmyLiaoMD) January 19, 2025 Outlook The hamstring and hand fracture are unlikely to be an issue going forward. The mysterious ankle (maybe Achilles?) that took about three months to recover from could be something to watch. Career path Melifonwu finished out his 4-year rookie contract with the Lions and became an unrestricted free agent this offseason. He ended up signing a 1-year contract with the Dolphins that has $2.45 million guaranteed, per-game bonus up to $510,000, and incentives of up to $1 million. While he is young (age 26) and has proven to be an impactful player on the field, his reliability concerns likely created reluctance by the Lions and other teams to give him a long-term deal.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Today in Chicago History: City cheers Vietnam veterans during a 5-hour parade — 11 years after the war
Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on June 13, according to the Tribune's archives. Is an important event missing from this date? Email us. Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago) High temperature: 95 degrees (1956) Low temperature: 40 degrees (1985) Precipitation: 4.64 inches (1976) Snowfall: Trace (2022) 1888: For the sum of $3,000, Lincoln Park Zoo bought an 8-year-old female elephant — the zoo's first — later named 'Duchess,' one camel, one lioness, one Bengal tiger, two leopards, one zebu, one llama and one ibex from the Barnum & Bailey Circus. Today, the zoo does not sell any animals, and nearly all acquisitions are noncommercial. 1940: The Chicago Cubs faced the Boston Red Sox in the inaugural Hall of Fame Game in Cooperstown, New York. The Cubs defeated the Red Sox 10-9 in a seven-inning game that was shortened by rain as 3,500 fans looked on. Ironically, the traditional game's effort in 2008 — Cubs vs. San Diego Padres — was also upended by rain. 1957: Most baseball fights produce a little shoving, occasional hugging, some dancing and pulled powderpuff punches. This one was an exception. The benches cleared after New York Yankees pitcher Art Dittmar threw close to the White Sox's Larry Doby, and some big-time punching followed. In the center of things was veteran Yankee outfielder Enos Slaughter, who broke into baseball with some pretty tough guys playing for the old St. Louis Cardinals' Gashouse Gang. Never one to walk away from a rumble, Slaughter went after the biggest opponent he could find, Sox first baseman Walt 'Moose' Dropo, a 6-foot-5-inch, 240-pound former college tight end. When peacemakers finally pried apart Slaughter and Dropo, Slaughter had his jersey ripped, but Dropo had taken the more telling punches. Unofficial grandstand judges awarded Slaughter the decision. Once again, the Yankees had bested the Sox. 1986: A nearly five-hour parade dedicated to Vietnam veterans marched through downtown Chicago — 11 years after the war ended. 1994: Chicago Cubs second baseman Ryne Sandberg retired, saying he wanted to devote more time to his family and adding that he had 'lost the edge it takes' to play. After resolving matters in his personal life and remarrying, the future Hall of Famer returned to the Cubs after the 1995 season and hit 25 home runs with 92 RBIs in his comeback year. Sandberg, who unveiled a statue of his likeness outside Wrigley Field in June 2024, announced in December of that year that his prostate cancer had relapsed and spread to other organs. 1997: The Chicago Bulls won their fifth NBA championship. 2006: Former Chicago City Clerk James Laski was sentenced to two years in prison after he pleaded guilty earlier to one count of bribery in the federal probe of the city's Hired Truck Program. He served about one year in prison. 2022: On Flag Day, Cook County officials unveiled a new flag known as the 'I Will Banner.' Created by Glenbrook South High School student Drew Duffy, the new flag features a circle of seven-point red stars on the left and a sideways blue, green and white Y-shaped stripe to the right. Subscribe to the free Vintage Chicago Tribune newsletter, join our Chicagoland history Facebook group, stay current with Today in Chicago History and follow us on Instagram for more from Chicago's past. Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Kori Rumore and Marianne Mather at krumore@ and mmather@