Detroit Lions’ player pouring life into pass rush; And what Dan Campbell expects.

All season long, the Detroit Lions have been looking for additional edge rush support. It’s possible that they discovered some right there.

Romeo Okwara recorded two sacks and a forced fumble in a surprising December. He has performed well enough in the final stretch of the season to be in the mix for a rotational spot when the Lions take on the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.

According to Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, “He’s helping us out a lot.” “And you can actually see his rep count rise. And then putting him into packages to where he can be free, attempt to go one-on-one and get to the quarterback. We’ll keep doing it, and I’m really glad for that player. I genuinely believe so, as he is beginning to perceive himself as a player who can impact the game, and we intend to position him to do so.”

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Following his breakthrough 10-sack season in 2020, Okwara’s effect has been negligible.

Four games into the 2021 season, he tore his Achilles tendon, missing the majority of the previous year while he recovered, and he didn’t start to look like himself until lately.

In 16 games this season, he has racked up two sacks; in the combined 2021–2022 seasons, he has three.

Glenn stated, “I think that has a lot to do with it.” “I believe that he is recovering from the injuries quite well. And keep in mind that while everyone is unique and they discuss Achilles injuries, sometimes it takes a year or even a year and a half to fully recover and resume your activities.”

The role of Okwara has changed during this season.

He started the season as a rotational pass rusher and was a healthy scratch in the team’s Week 1 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. However, he spent seven games with fewer than ten snaps, and last week he played 34 snaps as the team’s third defensive end.

Since his return from injury, Josh Paschal has played as the No. 2 defensive end, while Aidan Hutchinson leads the Lions with 11.5 sacks. As the season is coming to a finish, Okwara expressed his satisfaction with his current level of play, attributing it all to “the opportunities I’m getting on Sunday.”

“When the coach, head coach says (we need more pass rush) I think you’ve got to take that as a personal challenge,” Okwara said. “I feel like I try to take things very personal, especially when it comes to D-line play, rushing the passer. I pride myself on that front, so I think everyone in the room is just kind of on a race to improve on that front, especially towards the end of the season there. And yeah, I’m just trying to do everything I can to help this team win.”

Head games

Like most people, Dan Campbell has never seen a Lions playoff game in Detroit. But the Lions coach thinks he has a pretty good idea how rocking Ford Field will be Sunday.

“To me, this is three years ago thinking about what this was going to be like and what it could be like and now it’s here,” he said. “And so, I know exactly what it’s going to look like. I’ve seen it in my head. It’s going to be different than anybody’s seen. I think this is going to be one of the most electric environments, atmospheres that you’re going to find, and I think it’s going to be an advantage.”