After five seasons with the Detroit Lions, former Washington Huskies star defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike's time with the organization has come to an end.
On Friday, the NFC North team, which selected the 6-foot-3, 304-pound defensive tackle in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft, released Onwuzurike, who has struggled with injuries throughout his time in Detroit. Most recently, he suffered a torn ACL in July 2025 after signing a one-year, $5.5 million contract to avoid hitting free agency.
Onwuzurike also dealt with a back injury in 2022 that forced him to have surgery and miss the entire season, as he played in 42 games and made ten starts during his time with the Lions. He had also put together a strong training camp and had made the team's
initial 53-man roster ahead of its opener against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
Lions announce roster moves:
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) September 11, 2026
Released DE Levi Onwuzurike.
Released DL Tyre West from the Practice Squad. pic.twitter.com/zOQ0GHS49H
"I feel like Levi's had a good camp. Levi, as we all know, he's coming off a ton of injuries. But it's nice to have two ACLs; he would tell you that. It helps him move a lot better; he's got a lot more power, and I think that shows up," head coachDan Campbell said during training camp. "There are times with Levi because he's such a strong man, he's a strong human being, powerful, that sometimes he gets real high. He can get a little bit high, and really the last couple of days, that showed up a little bit."
Over his time with the Lions, Onwuzurike compiled 68 tackles, 4 for loss, with 3.5 sacks, 2 pass breakups, and a forced fumble as Campbell helped turn the team into a contender that made the playoffs in both 2023 and 2024, after winning the division in both years.
At 28 years old, if Onwuzurike can prove that he's healthy, he could prove to be a promising rotational piece for an NFL team along the interior.
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Former Washington football star released by Detroit Lions
