The bad news just keeps coming in for one of the Chicago Bears' biggest rivals, the Detroit Lions, as they have lost one of their key players for the entire 2025 season.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell announced that defensive lineman Levi Onwuazurike will be lost for the season as he underwent surgery to repair his torn ACL. Onwauzurike was originally placed on the reserve/physically unable to perform list, which results in any players having to sit out four games, but it appears the news was worse than some expected.
Lions DT Levi Onwuzurike underwent surgery for a torn ACL and is out for the season, per Detroit HC Dan Campbell.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 20, 2025
Last season, Onwuzurike found time on the field as he started games for the first time in his four-year career, with 10 starts in his 16 appearances. He finished with 28 tackles, 13 quarterback hits, 1.5 sacks, one tackle for loss, and one forced fumble in 2024.
Onwuzurike's impact on the Bears in 2025
It's a tough blow to the Lions' defensive line, which has seen its fair share of injuries in the past, with Aiden Hutchinson being the most recent example from last year. Onwuzurike was seen as an instant contributor on the interior and had a breakout season with pass-rushing, as his 13 quarterback hits last year were a career-high.
That was part of the reason that Bears general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson focused so much on the interior offensive line. After allowing 68 sacks in 2024, the Bears brought in guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson as well as center Drew Dalman. They even selected Ozzy Trapilo in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
These moves were made to protect Caleb Williams better, but open up more running lanes for D'Andre Swift, who had under four yards a carry last year (first time in his career). Chicago wanted to ensure that its interior offensive line could hold up against the more dominant defensive lines, such as the Lions.
Injuries are a horrible thing, and everyone wants their opponent's players to be healthy so they can beat them at their full strength. It creates a tough situation where the Lions might once again have to look outside to find help to fill that role, whether through free agency or a trade.
As for the Bears? Nothing changes. This new-look offensive line is ready to take on the best. It might be an easier time to handle the Lions' tackles, but coming off the edge for Detroit will still be the biggest challenge with Hutchinson.
Read more: One Bears clip shows a new unleashed Caleb Williams ready for 2025 season
It will certainly add some intrigue to that early-season matchup for the Bears, as it will be one of the offensive line's first big challenges with the Minnesota Vikings and Lions back-to-back.