The Detroit Lions are set to open training camp on Saturday, July 19. But before camp even kicks off, the team announced that several players will be sidelined to start due to injuries. On Thursday, the team placed OT Taylor Decker, CB Khalil Dorsey, OG Miles Frazier, DL Alim McNeill, LB Malcolm Rodriguez, and DL Mekhi Wingo on the Active Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.

DL Josh Paschal and CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver landed on the active NFI list, while DT Levi Onwuzurike was moved to the reserve PUP list.

While injuries to McNeill and Rodriguez were somewhat expected given their previous issues, Onwuzurike’s status has caught many off guard. The 27-year-old was anticipated to help cover for McNeill’s absence.

Now that he’s expected to miss at least the first four games of the 2024 season—and with others on the line also hurting—the Lions may need to turn to a free agent who can play Onwuzurike’s hybrid role. Fortunately, one option still available is defensive lineman DeMarcus Walker.

Walker is a familiar name for Lions fans, having spent the last two seasons in the NFC North with the Chicago Bears. With Chicago, Walker posted 77 total tackles, 16 tackles for loss, seven sacks, 24 QB hits, 54 hurries, and 86 total pressures, per PFF.

Primarily a defensive end, Walker has also shown he can slide inside to defensive tackle on passing downs. While he’s not a full-time replacement for Onwuzurike, his third-down presence inside could still be valuable.

He also adds depth to the edge rotation. Though some fans are hoping for a reunion with Za’Darius Smith to shore up the edge, Walker could be a more versatile and strategic fit.

At this point, general manager Brad Holmes is under pressure to bolster the defensive line. With several players unavailable, the start of training camp may force his hand to bring in help quickly.