Detroit Lions-Indianapolis Colts Day 2 of joint practice

WESTFIELD, Ind. -- Among the many disappointments last season, Levi Onwuzurike might have been the biggest of them all. He was taken in the second round to beef up the interior pass rush, but hit just one quarterback all season and ranked among the worst defensive tackles in the league.

The Detroit Lions said they weren’t concerned because Onwuzurike had missed all of training camp with a back injury, which set him back all season. But a year later, Onwuzurike has missed almost all of training camp (again) with a back/hip injury (again) and didn’t even make the trip to Indianapolis this week for extended work with the Colts.

Head coach Dan Campbell acknowledged the growing concern before practice on Thursday.

“I know why you’re asking it,” Campbell told MLive on the field here at Grant Park in Westfield, Ind. “Look, every day that he’s not in there, it certainly is not helping. It doesn’t help him and it doesn’t help us as a team. However, it is what it is and it’s not his fault. And so all we can ask him to do is just continue to treat it, and our guys are working with him and he is getting better. Certainly not at the pace he wants it to be, but he is getting better and he’s working through it. So that’s all we can ask, ‘Hey man, get healthy and then we’ll go from there.’”

Onwuzurike was taken with the 41st overall pick in last year’s draft despite suffering from a back issue while at Washington. Then Onwuzurike tweaked the back during the offseason, and went to see specialists for second opinions during training camp. He eventually worked his way back to the field, but had lost so much important developmental time that never had much of an impact.

He played in 16 games, but finished with just 35 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and one quarterback hit. He never cracked the starting lineup, and ranked 119th out of 131 defensive tackles who played at least 250 snaps according to ProFootballFocus.

After the season, the Lions gave him a vote of confidence, saying he just needed more practice reps and lower-body strength.

“The biggest thing is we need to continue to improve the lower-body strength and the ability to bend his knees and sink his butt,” defensive line coach Todd Wash said. “He needs to get underneath a squat rack and continue to get stronger in his lower body so he can hold up on the pounding that it takes in this league for a defensive lineman. That’s the biggest thing is just lower-body strength and flexibility.”

Onwuzurike drew rave reviews for his work and conditioning this offseason. Yet he made it through just one padded practice before suffering another back/hip injury. That occurred on Aug. 1, and he hasn’t been seen since. He did not make the trip to Indiana for joint practices with the Colts, along with injured safety Ifeatu Melifonwu, fullback Jason Cabinda and pass rushers Josh Paschal, Romeo Okwara and Julian Okwara.

One injured player who did make the journey is receiver Jameson Williams. The first-round pick has been at every practice while recovering from a torn ACL, and almost always has a ball in his hands while talking to anyone who will listen. Detroit hopes that will expedite his return to the field whenever the medical staff gives him the green light. The club is shooting for a mid-October return.

“We get a little more hands-on with him (when he travels with the team),” Campbell said. “It keeps him engaged in the football, in the meetings. We get a little more hands-on with the rehab, and then he gets to stay engaged in this environment. I mean, this is a different environment and I think any and all of this stuff is great for him. For somebody that’s young and learning what it needs to be or what it needs to look like, this is good.”

Right. Which makes it all the more concerning that Onwuzurike is back home once again.

Tight end Devin Funchess also did not practice on Thursday, but the good news is the injury he suffered on Wednesday was just a stinger. He should be back soon.

Special teams ace C.J. Moore also sat out the second day of practice with Indianapolis.

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