The Detroit Lions have officially entered the offseason while the rest of the NFL world prepares for Super Bowl LX between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks.

As with every NFL offseason, the Lions’ 2026 roster will look different from the team that finished the year with a victory over the Chicago Bears. Veteran lineman Dan Skipper has already retired, and longtime starter Taylor Decker could also depart.

However, the Lions are set to retain two important defensive players thanks to a little-known rule in the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

Defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike and defensive end Josh Paschal will both return to Detroit next season, even though neither appeared in a game during the 2025 campaign.

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CBA Rule Allows Lions to Keep Levi Onwuzurike and Josh Paschal

Onwuzurike was re-signed by Detroit in March but missed the entire season after suffering a torn ACL. Paschal also missed the full year following back surgery and was placed on the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list.

Because Paschal was never activated from NFI after his 21-day practice window expired in late November, he was ruled out for the remainder of the season. Under current NFL CBA provisions, this allows the Lions to retain both players without losing a contract year.

The CBA states that players placed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list or NFI list can have their contracts tolled under specific circumstances, meaning their contract year does not count if they are unable to perform and are not activated to the active roster.

This provision is what enables Detroit to bring back both Onwuzurike and Paschal for the 2026 season despite their absence in 2025.

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Levi Onwuzurike and Josh Paschal Missed Entire Season

Onwuzurike suffered his ACL injury before the season began. During the 2024 season, he recorded:

28 total tackles

45 quarterback pressures

635 defensive snaps

16 games played

10 starts

Paschal, meanwhile, has appeared in 36 games over his three seasons with the Lions, making 18 starts and serving as a key rotational edge defender.

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Detroit Lions Gain Hidden Advantage Entering 2026 Season

Thanks to this overlooked NFL contract rule, the Lions effectively gain two defensive reinforcements without using free agency or the NFL Draft. With both players returning healthy, Detroit adds depth and experience to its defensive front at no additional roster cost.

For a team aiming to rebound in the 2026 NFL season, this little-known CBA clause could provide a meaningful competitive edge.