Coaching camp represents one thing completely different to each sort of participant within the NFL. For younger gamers, it’s an opportunity to ascertain themselves as promising contributors. For star gamers, it’s time to remind everybody—together with these younger up-and-comers—that they’re the very best at what they do. And for veterans on the proverbial roster bubbles, it’s one final shot to show they nonetheless belong.
For defensive lineman Pat O’Connor, that chance means displaying he can nonetheless add worth to a loaded Detroit Lions entrance. The 31-year-old journeyman has carved out a job through the years with toughness, effort, and particular groups reliability—however with youthful expertise pushing from beneath, O’Connor enters camp realizing nothing is assured.
Earlier previews: RB Sione Vaki, RB Jahmyr Gibbs, WR Jameson Williams, TE Sam LaPorta, OT Giovanni Manu, G Graham Glasgow, EDGE Aidan Hutchinson, DT Brodric Martin, LB Grant Stuard, CB Ennis Rakestraw, Ok Jake Bates
Pat O’Connor
Expectations heading into 2024
O’Connor was initially drafted by the Lions within the seventh spherical of the 2017 NFL Draft, however was minimize on the finish of coaching camp. He caught round with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for seven seasons—be it on the follow squad or the energetic roster—earlier than coming again to the Lions halfway by means of coaching camp in 2024, signing with Detroit after John Cominsky suffered a torn MCL in follow.
With the Lions down a rotational defensive finish, O’Connor may present depth on the place ought to Detroit must cope with some other accidents—they’d. He additionally got here to Detroit with a ton of expertise on particular groups, enjoying over 1,300 particular groups snaps throughout all 4 phases with the Bucs.
Precise position in 2024
Notice: Stats are common season solely except in any other case acknowledged
12 video games (0 begins)Stats: 18 tackles, 1 quarterback hit, 1.0 sack, two tackles for lossPFF defensive grade: 43.5 (one hundred and thirtieth out of 146 qualifying DTs—minimal 193 snaps)PFF go rush grade: 55.3 (t-111th out of 146)PFF run protection grade: 47.9 (t-94th out of 146)PFF tackling grade: 28.2 (t-136th out of 146)
Though he didn’t crack the preliminary 53-man roster, as an alternative ending up on Detroit’s follow squad to start the 12 months, it wasn’t lengthy earlier than O’Connor earned a call-up. Promoted from the follow squad forward of Week 7, O’Connor went on to contribute in all 12 remaining common season video games, enjoying a career-high 245 defensive snaps.
Past the variety of snaps he performed, what stood out most was O’Connor’s versatility. Recognized principally as a defensive finish in his time with the Buccaneers, he stepped in primarily at nostril sort out following Kyle Peko’s season-ending damage in Week 6 in opposition to the Dallas Cowboys—giving the Lions beneficial depth throughout the road and a trusted veteran within the locker room.
“The blokes love him. I really like him,” former Lions line of defense coach Terrell Williams stated about O’Connor final season. “He works his butt off. He does a very good job on particular groups, however greater than something, the place flexibility. Like, he can play nostril sort out, finish.”
Apart from enjoying probably the most defensive snaps he ever had in a season, O’Connor additionally set season-high marks in pressures (10), tackles (18), and defensive run stops (4).
Outlook for 2025
Heading into free company, the Lions had loads of questions all alongside the line of defense. Alim McNeill’s damage would maintain him sidelined nicely into the season, so who would play alongside DJ Reader? Was Levi Onwuzurike going to signal for a bag elsewhere after lastly getting wholesome and producing? What’s the plan reverse of Aidan Hutchinson?
O’Connor was by no means anticipated to be the answer on the prime of the depth chart, however the Lions have taken a number of steps this offseason to strengthen their defensive entrance, prime to backside. Onwuzurike re-signed with the Lions on a really team-friendly deal, and so they additionally made a comparatively sizable funding in Roy Lopez, giving Detroit one other rotational run defender. Marcus Davenport is again on a one-year cope with one thing to show. Within the draft, Tyleik Williams is one other stout inside presence with pass-rushing upside à la McNeill—the man he’ll ultimately be enjoying subsequent to—and Ahmed Hassanein is a undertaking with the angle ripe for Dan Campbell’s management.
So the place does that depart O’Connor?
O’Connor will enter camp with a couple of tangible benefits that might bolster his probabilities of sticking on Detroit’s roster. For one, and it might probably’t be overstated, his versatility is one thing the Lions covet of their defensive linemen. Mix that along with his in depth expertise on particular groups and that’s one thing Detroit will definitely consider when making their back-end roster calculations. However maybe most notably, the addition of Kacy Rodgers to Detroit’s teaching workers—O’Connor’s former place coach in Tampa Bay for 5 seasons—supplies familiarity. Rodgers already understands O’Connor’s strengths, work habits, and position flexibility, and that might give him a clearer path to carving out a spot in an in any other case crowded line of defense room.
