Valuable Detroit Lions starter could be hinting at a contract holdout
The Detroit Lions already have a challenging season ahead, having to replace offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn in the same offseason. They've also had to replace multiple starters on offense and defense.
Based on the actions of Alex Anzalone, the Lions may soon have to worry about who will be playing linebacker when training camp begins.
Advertisement
Heading into the final year of his contract, Anzalone wasn't present for the Lions' voluntary offseason workouts. Set to have a $7.2 million cap hit, there haven't been any reports of Anzalone angling for a new contract or debating a holdout.
However, if you scroll through Anzalone's X social media page, you'll find multiple references to him sharing posts about how valuable he is to the Lions' defense.
After fracturing his left forearm, Anzalone only made it through 10 games last year, but before that, he had been coming off back-to-back 100-tackle seasons. When healthy, he's been a mainstay, starting all 57 games he's appeared in with Detroit.
Advertisement
Set to turn 31 in September, it makes sense for Anzalone to get every cent he can while at the peak of his career. Yet, the Lions may want him to prove he's not only durable and healthy enough to make it through a full season again.
Related: Predicting NFL playoff teams and Super Bowl 2026 winner
Related Headlines
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
38 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Billy Boston to become rugby league's first knight
Billy Boston will receive rugby league's first knighthood in a special ceremony at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday. Cardiff-born Boston, 90, blazed a trail for black sports stars during the 1950s and 1960s, making 488 appearances for Wigan and finishing his career with a British record 571 tries to his name. Advertisement He also became the first non-white player to represent Great Britain on a Lions tour in 1954, scoring 36 tries in 18 appearances in Australia and New Zealand, and featuring in a total of 31 international Test matches. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: 'Billy Boston's knighthood is a historic milestone providing fitting recognition for the greatest player rugby league has ever seen. 'As MP for Wigan, this is a proud day for our town, for the Welsh nation, for rugby league fans across the country and, most importantly, for Billy and his family. 'The first knighthood for a rugby league player is long overdue recognition for a game that has contributed so much to our national life. This is the moment we right a historic wrong.' Boston made a try-scoring debut for Wigan against Barrow in November 1953, and by the time he left the club in 1968, he had played in six Challenge Cup finals at Wembley, featuring on the winning side in 1958, 1959 and 1965. Advertisement Wigan owner Mike Danson said he was 'thrilled' by Boston's award, describing it as 'a richly deserved honour which means this most humble of men rightly receives, at last, fitting recognition for his extraordinary efforts'. Boston's honour followed a sustained campaign by local councillors and MPs as well as leading figures in the sport, who have frequently pointed out the relative lack of recognition for rugby league compared to union, which has seen 20 knights anointed. Billy Boston (front row, far left) featured in six Challenge Cup finals with Wigan (PA Archive) Rugby Football League chief executive Tony Sutton said: 'On behalf of the Rugby Football League, and the sport of rugby league, it is a privilege to congratulate Sir Billy Boston on his knighthood. Advertisement 'Sir Billy deserves to be recognised as an iconic figure in the history of British sport, for the way he overcame prejudice in his journey from working-class Cardiff to legendary status in Wigan, and became the most prolific British try-scorer in the 130-year history of rugby league.' The full King's Birthday Honours list is set to be announced later this week. It is understood Boston's award was brought forward due to concerns about his health.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Bears dubbed likely worst-to-first team in 2025
The Chicago Bears have been one of the biggest offseason winners as they've improved their team across the board, starting with the hiring of Ben Johnson as head coach. The Bears already have a young, rising star in quarterback Caleb Williams, and they've prioritized his development with the addition of Johnson, as well as the overhauling of the entire interior offensive line and some new weapons added to the mix. Chicago also added defensive tackle Grady Jarrett and defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo, along with a potential impact draft class. Advertisement But the question remains: Is this finally the year where the NFL's offseason champions finally see the product translate on the field during the regular season? ESPN's Aaron Schatz ranked the NFL's most likely worst-to-first teams for the 2025 season. And not only did the Bears make the list, but they were second only to the San Francisco 49ers. The Bears finished 22nd in FPI last season, but they're seen as above-average entering the 2025 season. That's because Caleb Williams should improve in his second year under center, and the Bears added a lot of talent on the offensive line to give him better protection. There's also a lot of optimism about new coach Ben Johnson, but it's important to remember that teams with new coaches and coordinators tend to take a small step back in the first season. We may not notice this because new coaching staffs are usually brought in after particularly bad seasons, making a slight improvement a simple regression toward the mean. The biggest issue holding the Bears back this season is that they have the second-hardest schedule in the NFL, per my DVOA rankings (more on the hardest schedule later). All three other NFC North teams (Vikings, Lions and Packers) made the postseason in 2024, and only Minnesota is expected to decline in 2025. We've seen this film before. The Bears have an impactful offseason with high-flying expectations only the crap the bed when the season begins. But this year feels different with Johnson's arrival, and his impact is already being felt by the players inside the locker room. Sure, the Bears have the second-most difficult schedule in the NFL. Yes, they play in a tough NFC North division. But they also have the leader and the roster talent to make waves. And if Johnson can unlock Williams early in Year 1, the sky's the limit. Advertisement Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears dubbed likely worst-to-first team in 2025
USA Today
7 hours ago
- USA Today
An eye-opening stat reveals how elite A.J. Brown is at the wide receiver position
An eye-opening stat reveals how elite A.J. Brown is at the wide receiver position A.J. Brown's 16.1 yards per reception last season was second among all wideouts with at least 80 targets, behind only Jameson Williams of the Detroit Lions. Being a part of a run-first offense has its downsides. Just ask Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown, who in 2024 saw his lowest statistical outputs since coming to Philadelphia, while playing in 13 games. While injuries contributed to that, Saquon Barkley's historic rushing season limited the opportunities for Eagles' pass-catchers. Numbers don't tell the entire story, however. When Brown was involved, he was one of the NFL's most explosive players. His 16.1 yards per reception last season was second among all wideouts with at least 80 targets, behind only Jameson Williams of the Detroit Lions. Jameson Williams 17.3 yards/reception A.J. Brown 16.1 yards/reception Calvin Ridley 15.9 yards/reception Darnell Mooney 15.5 yards/reception George Pickens 15.3 yards/reception DK Metcalf 15.0 yards/reception Brown earned the league's highest receiving grade vs. single coverage last season (96.6), via Pro Football Focus. He also logged five 100-yard games, tied for the most among all wide receivers during the regular season. At just 28 years old, Brown is still performing at an elite level, and a step back from the Eagles' run game or defense in 2025 could only increase his value in Philadelphia's offense. 'It has to change; it has to evolve,' Brown said of the offense in February. 'I don't know what wrinkles would look like, but we have to find ways to get better, you know? It's a lot of fame out there on us — we just won — and guys are going to be coming at us. We're not doing the hunting anymore. We're the hunted, and we have to get better.'
