The Detroit Lions announced a significant late-week roster change on Friday, moving veteran defensive lineman Pat O’Connor to injured reserve and ruling him out for Sunday night’s showdown with the Philadelphia Eagles.
O’Connor, 32, has been battling a knee issue that already kept him out of last week’s game against the Washington Commanders. Although he participated in Wednesday’s practice in a limited fashion—suggesting he might be trending in the right direction—his back-to-back absences on Thursday and Friday signaled that his progress had stalled.
With the setback, Detroit opted to place him on IR, meaning he must sit out at least four games before he can return.
Before the injury, O’Connor had suited up for eight contests this season, contributing five solo tackles, five assisted tackles, and a pass breakup while offering veteran depth along the defensive line. Originally drafted by Detroit in the seventh round back in 2017, he’s built an eight-year NFL career that includes six seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and a Super Bowl ring.
His placement on IR frees up a roster spot as the Lions prepare for a high-stakes primetime battle against the reigning Super Bowl champions—a matchup with major implications in the NFC race.
