Alex Anzalone not holding out but wants 'to be rewarded' for his Lions contributions
Anzalone didn't participate in workouts, as he remains on the PUP list with a hamstring injury. He did meet with the local media shortly after practice, where Anzalone danced around the elephant in the room: his contract situation.
Anzalone skipped the voluntary spring sessions, which led to some consternation about a potential holdout for the veteran LB. With just one year left on his contract and no guaranteed money, Anzalone has dropped numerous social media hints that he wants a fresh contract that provides more security.
Anzalone insists he's not holding out, reiterating what head coach Dan Campbell stated before Sunday's practice that the notion of such a spirited player and integral leader was crazy talk. The thought did cross his mind, however, as related by Justin Rogers of the Detroit Football Network,
'I'm in a situation where I thought about it, and for my own personal goals and what I want for the team, I didn't think it was the best scenario (to not report). …We have a chance to win the Super Bowl and I want to be a part of it.'
Anzalone is under contract for a $6 million salary through 2025. None of that salary is guaranteed, nor is his $100,000 roster bonus. He's currently not in the top 30 of linebackers in compensation for the coming season.
'Production, play, the market. …I feel like I've done that a lot (put team first) through my four years here, and I'm just in a situation where you want to be rewarded for that, at least in some regard," Anzalone offered about his wages.
He did push back a bit on the speculation that he's not really hurt, but offered no timeline for when he'll be cleared for action off the PUP list.
More: Lions coach Dan Campbell: 'We're out to finish what we started'
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Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith will welcome his skillset and there's a chance the Steelers offensive line can become one of the best in the league. 22. TreVeyon Henderson, New England Patriots. Henderson is New England's most dynamic playmaker on offense entering 2025. Rhamondre Stevenson may be ahead of him on the depth chart, but it'd be a surprise if offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels limits his touches as a rookie. 23. D'Andre Swift, Chicago Bears. New Bears head coach and offensive play-caller Ben Johnson schemed up one of the top offenses in the league in Detroit based on a potent running game. Swift could benefit from the new hire and upgrades on the offensive line. 24. RJ Harvey, Denver Broncos. Denver signed veteran J.K. Dobbins, but the dynamic rookie Harvey should be a threat as a runner and receiver. Even with Dobbins and Audric Estime in the building, Harvey will have a big role. 25. Tyrone Tracy Jr., New York Giants. Tracy had a strong rookie season last year and could improve in Year 2, especially in half- and full-PPR leagues thanks to his background as a receiver. New York has a tough schedule in 2025, three potential starting quarterbacks and added to the running back room in free agency and the draft. That makes Tracy a risky pick. 26. Joe Mixon, Houston Texans. Mixon will miss significant time with a foot injury and that's a tough outlook entering the 2025 season under a new offensive coordinator. He's going into his age-29 season behind an offensive line with plenty of question marks. 27. David Montgomery, Detroit Lions. Only seven RBs had more rushing touchdowns than Montgomery last season, but he barely cracked 1,000 yards from scrimmage. If that scoring total takes a dip with a change in coordinator and a larger role for Gibbs, that could knock Montgomery down from low-end RB2 status. 28. Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs. Pacheco struggled in 2024 following a fractured fibula early in the season. He'll be contending for touches with free agent addition Elijah Mitchell and rookie Brashard Smith but should still be the lead back. That gives him a high floor entering 2025. 29. Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans. Tennessee upgraded everything around the running back position this offseason and Pollard should benefit. There will be multiple new starters on the offensive line, an upgraded receiving corps and a No. 1 pick at quarterback. That's much improved from his RB21 circumstances a year ago. 30. Brian Robinson Jr., Washington Commanders. Washington upgraded its offensive line and should take a step under second-year coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and quarterback Jayden Daniels. But Robinson isn't much of a threat as a receiver, especially with Austin Ekeler still on the roster, which keeps his ceiling low despite a high floor. 31. Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks. Walker will be the lead back in Seattle but hasn't played a full season since entering the league in 2022. That makes Charbonnet one of the top handcuff options in fantasy this year with RB3 potential in an offense lacking playmakers outside of Walker and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. 32. Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers opted to re-sign Warren this offseason and he should benefit from the improved offensive line. Johnson may shoulder a lot of the rushing load, but Warren could be a sleeper in PPR leagues as Pittsburgh's pass-catching group lacks much beyond D.K. Metcalf. 33. Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys: Williams is one of two free agent additions alongside Miles Sanders in a new-look Cowboys backfield. New offensive coordinator Klayton Adams helped design a creative running scheme in Arizona. That could benefit Williams and the other runners in Dallas. 34. Jordan Mason, Minnesota Vikings. Mason moved from San Francisco to Minnesota this offseason and his outlook significantly improved. Aaron Jones is entering his age-31 season and the Vikings should run the ball enough to make Mason an attractive handcuff with RB3 potential. 35. Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars. New Jaguars coach Liam Coen maximized a backfield with Rachaad White, Bucky Irving and Sean Tucker in Tampa Bay last year. It's unclear early how the touches will be divvied up in Jacksonville with Etienne competing with Tank Bigsby and rookie Bhayshul Tuten. 36. Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots. Stevenson is the lead returning ball-carrier in New England but Henderson's dynamic potential could eat into his opportunities. The Patriots offensive line shouldn't be nearly as bad as a year ago, giving some potential for Stevenson as a low-end RB3. 37. Nick Chubb, Houston Texans. With Mixon facing an injury in training camp, Chubb could be a surprise contributor early on in 2025. Houston has a first-year offensive coordinator and a new-look offensive line but the carries could be there for Chubb as Mixon works his way back to health. 38. Dylan Sampson, Cleveland Browns. Cleveland's offense is full of question marks at quarterback and running back. Second-round pick Quinshon Judkins remains unsigned behind incumbent Jerome Ford. Sampson's abilities in the receiving game give him the edge over Ford here. 39. J.K. Dobbins, Denver Broncos. Dobbins was an early-season fantasy darling last year before injury cut into his production. He and rookie RJ Harvey figure to share carries but Harvery should be the more explosive option, lowering Dobbins' ceiling. 40. Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers. White will be playing under his third offensive coordinator in the last three seasons. New coordinator Josh Grizzard was the passing game coordinator last year, which could see White's value as a receiver continue ... but Irving could eat even more into his share of the carries out of the backfield. 41. Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons. Allgeier is one of the top handcuffs this season and has the track record to produce should Robinson miss time with injury. There may not be enough carries to go around if Robinson is in the lineup, though, capping Allgeier's ceiling. 42. Najee Harris, Los Angeles Chargers. Harris is recovering from an eye injury and that could knock his already low fantasy outlook this season. But given how much the Chargers will likely want to run the ball, he should get steady carries behind Hampton in 2025. Just not enough to move him out of RB4 territory. 43. Cam Skattebo, New York Giants. Skattebo will pair with Tracy in the Giants backfield, but things are bleak given the schedule, quarterback situation and offensive line. He showed off his skills as a receiver in college, which improves his outlook. 44. Jaydon Blue, Dallas Cowboys. While Williams and Sanders may start the year with the most touches, look for Blue to get a bigger role as the season wears on. He's a proven receiver out of the backfield with dynamic ability in open space. In an offense lacking playmakers, watch out for him to improve as the season moves along. 45. Tank Bigsby, Jacksonville Jaguars. Bigsby could see a bigger role with Coen now in Jacksonville, but his lack of receiving chops means he'll likely be pigeonholed in a crowded backfield. His best outlook is to take over as the early-down runner from Etienne and churn out yards behind an improved offensive line. 46. Isaac Guerendo, San Francisco 49ers. Guerendo played well in a couple of starts as a rookie. McCaffrey is back and healthy in 2025 but Guerendo could be a top handcuff with rookie Jordan James offering potential as an early-down running back. 47. Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans. Spears should benefit from the Titans' improved offense, though not as much as Pollard. He struggled with injury last season but looks set for a bigger role as the primary pass-catching back in Tennessee's offense. 48. Roschon Johnson, Chicago Bears. New coach Ben Johnson used two running backs very effectively during his time in Detroit. That bumps Johnson's potential in 2025 to have a role akin to David Montgomery in recent years. That makes him a worthwhile late-round flyer. 49. Brashard Smith, Kansas City Chiefs. Pacheco is the hard-nosed runner leading the way in Kansas City but Smith could be the dynamic receiving option out of the backfield. His background as a receiver should give him a role similar to what Jerick McKinnon had in years past. 50. Trey Benson, Arizona Cardinals. Benson could see a bigger role in his sophomore season in Arizona as Conner gets one year older with a history of missing games with injury. He's a worthwhile handcuff with potential for a larger share of carries in 2025.
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Why do the Chargers have an extra preseason game? Los Angeles 2025 schedule, how to watch
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