Detroit Lions invested in Day 2 DL for situations like this, now they just need to perform

This is something the Detroit Lions should be prepared for.

After spending four Day 2 picks on defensive linemen in the past three NFL drafts, the Lions should have the firepower to cover for the loss of their best defensive tackle, Alim McNeill, for at least the next four weeks.

But in the limited playing time they've had so far, the young guns the Lions could be counting on Sunday against the Chicago Bears have fired mostly duds.

Levi Onwuzurike, a second-round pick in 2021, has one sack and more games missed (24) than played (22) in his NFL career. Josh Paschal, a 2022 second-round choice, has battled his own slew of injuries that's cost him 11 of a possible 29 games, though he has shown flashes of ability in recent weeks. And Brodric Martin, a third-round pick in April, has played 11 defensive snaps this year.

Martin will be active Sunday for the first time since Oct. 30, and Onwuzurike could be as well as the Lions take a group approach to replacing McNeill's production.

Paschal, who plays primarily as a big end in the Lions defense, is one of a handful of flex players (along with John Cominsky and Romeo Okwara) who could see more time inside.

DAN CAMPBELL: 'Be careful' assuming McNeill, others made injuries worse returning to play

McNeill ranks second on the Lions with five sacks and is tied for second in tackles-for-loss (six) and quarterback hits (nine).

"It’s always hard to replace a player of his stature and we all know that," Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn said. "The thing that we got to do a really good job of, man, is keep developing the guys that we have in our program and other guys have to step up, too."

Both Martin and Onwuzurike have a chance to jumpstart their careers that are in very different places heading into a four-game stretch that the Lions hope will propel them to their first division title in 30 years.

The Lions (9-3) traded up to take Martin in April's draft knowing he was a project coming out of Western Kentucky but believing in the tools he has inside his massive 6-foot-5, 330-pound frame.

Martin made a handful of eye-popping plays in training camp, but struggled with pad level and has spent the fall working to refine some of the technical aspects of the position.

"The one thing I think that he had an issue with early is just being able to use his hands and understanding how to use his hands," Glenn said. "And, man, in practice he’s doing a really good job of that. Before practice, after practice, those are the things that Brodric is doing a really good job of to get himself on the field. And then other than that, man, I’m a big believer in D-linemen being able to have lateral agility and he’s working his butt off trying to work on those things, too."

Martin said he feels like he's made big strides in his strength and footwork over the past three months, when he's been biding his time on the scout team waiting for his turn to play on game day.

"It is a fine line to walk, but you’ve got to be humble, man," he said. "Of course, yeah, I want to play and like —you’re just watching a play, you hear the crowd roaring, you’re seeing us doing a great job and all that, you’re just like, 'Damn, I want to get out there so bad.' But you just got to stay humble and you just got to work and I promise you, no matter what, it’s God’s time and not your time, so whenever God's ready for you to play or showcase, you’re going to be out there."

Onwuzurike has more pass-rush ability than any of the Lions' other interior defensive linemen, including McNeill, but has not been able to tap into his potential because of injuries.

He had one sack in 17 games as a rookie, but was only mildly impactful after missing training camp with a back injury. Last year, Onwuzurike missed the entire season after undergoing back surgery, and this year he's played more than 10 defensive snaps in just three of the six games he's appeared in.

"He’s kind of been the odd guy out (in the defensive line rotation based on numbers), but he works his rear off and it’s really time on task," Lions coach Dan Campbell said. "The more reps he gets, the better he’s going to be and he continues to grow, so we’re not disappointed with him. I mean, it’s — we’re excited that he’s healthy and he’s able to work, man. And he is growing, he is getting better.”

Onwuzurike has one year left on his rookie contract and may need a strong finish to the season to ensure he stays a part of the Lions' plans for the future. Both Benito Jones and practice squad nose tackle Quinton Bohanna have been ahead of Onwuzurike in the playing rotation, and Bohanna and Martin are both a year younger.

INJURY UPDATE: Alex Anzalone's 'tough but blessed week' started with thumb injury, ended with a newborn

Martin's future with the Lions is more secure, but he has a chance to play his way into a more prominent role between now and New Year's Day.

He said it's "amazing" to have an opportunity to "get to do some type of showcase, get to show out" again, and Campbell called it "a great opportunity" for all of his young linemen to do the same.

"If you’re one of them, you’re excited," Campbell said. "Let me say this, losing Mac for these four weeks is going to be tough because he’s been a reliable, steady, productive player for us and he’s really come into his own this year. I mean, he’s just grown every year, but this year was – he was big, he was a force for us and the guys got a lot of respect for him, so that hurts.

"But at the same token, man, this train moves on and that’s the nature of the game we play in. And we’ve dealt with it all year. We’ve dealt with it (for) three years. Every team goes through it and so it’s next man up. It’s a great opportunity. Levi, Brodric, Bohanna, (Isaiah) Buggs. I mean, everybody — we’re looking at next man up and these guys are getting an opportunity to prove their worth here and help us out.”

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions young DL has great opportunity with Alim McNeill injured