The Detroit Lions are in a bit of a bind with the uncertain status of defensive lineman Alim McNeill for 2025. Last December, McNeill suffered a season-ending torn ACL—a significant injury with a notoriously demanding recovery process.

While McNeill has remained upbeat about his rehabilitation, aiming for a swift comeback, the typical recovery window for an ACL tear is anywhere from nine months to a full year. That timeline leaves the door open for a return at some point between September and December 2025, making for a nail-biting wait for Lions fans.

McNeill has become a cornerstone of the Lions’ defense, and his absence would be a palpable gap in their lineup. He’s a young player with a four-year, $97 million deal he inked back in October of last season.

For 2025, McNeill’s numbers look like this: a base salary of $1.17 million with $4.96 million in prorated bonuses, resulting in a cap hit of $6.136 million. Fast forward to 2026, and those figures skyrocket to a base salary of $23.85 million and a whopping $28.966 million cap hit.

Setting the expectations for McNeill’s return and performance in 2025 requires some careful consideration. If his offseason rehab goes smoothly, an early return could be in the cards.

Ideally, he might even start the season on the active roster, though it wouldn’t be shocking to see him sit out the first couple of games. Missing training camp due to ongoing rehab could delay his game readiness, as practice reps are crucial for getting back into playing shape.

Rushing his return isn’t without risks, especially considering he was sidelined for four games in 2023 with knee troubles.

In looking for hopeful comparisons, we can turn to Grady Jarrett, a top-tier defensive tackle who faced his own ACL setback in 2023. Jarrett managed to make it back by the start of the next season, participating in all 17 games in 2024 and recording 53 combined tackles, nine tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks.

However, his post-injury season wasn’t quite as electric as previous ones. It’s worth noting that Jarrett and McNeill differ in the timing of their injuries and their stage in NFL careers, with Jarrett having just finished his 10th season as McNeill heads into his fifth.

Another player in a similar situation was former Seahawks defensive end Chris Clemons, who tore his ACL during the 2013 Wild Card round. Clemons missed only the first two games of the following season, returning by Week 3.

Yet, before his injury, Clemons had racked up consecutive double-digit sack seasons. Post-injury, he managed just 4.5 sacks over 14 games in 2014.

His eventual rebound to eight sacks in 2015 offers a glimmer of hope that McNeill, too, can overcome this hurdle and recapture his pre-injury form.

In preparation for McNeill’s potential absence, the Lions have been proactive. They’ve brought Levi Onwuzurike back into the fold and added Roy Lopez to the defensive line mix, signaling an intent to utilize their depth wisely. This approach should help ease McNeill back into the action rather than thrusting him into an immediate, every-down role.

All things considered, here’s a cautious yet optimistic prediction: McNeill returns by Week 4, plays in 14 games, and puts up 3.5 sacks along with 10 tackles for loss in 2025. It’s not just about numbers, though. It’s about pacing his comeback smartly for long-term health and performance, keeping both the Lions’ defense and McNeill’s career on a promising trajectory.