The Detroit Lions have never really had these kinds of expectations going into the 2024 campaign. In some ways, it is a “Super Bowl of bust” because they lost the NFC Championship Game the year before and did so by blowing a 24-7 halftime lead.
Some Lions players who are starting key seasons in their careers fall under that category of high expectations. Big, important, or game-changing—you can choose the label that best describes you. How well these players execute in these crucial situations could determine how successful the club is this season, as it could have a positive or negative impact on their individual career outlooks.
In light of this, this season for these five Lions players might make or break their careers.
Five Detroit Lions players who will face a make-or-break campaign in 2024
5. Melifonwu S Ifeatu
In Week 14 of the previous season, Melifonwu entered the starting lineup. He was effective in the final moments of the game for the Lions because he was healthy and used in a way that fit him.
Melifonwu had the fourth-best overall Pro Football Focus grade (83.7) among safeties from Weeks 14–18. He had five sacks, 42 total stops, four tackles for loss, two interceptions, seven pass breakups, and eight quarterback hits from Week 14 to the NFC Championship Game.
The concerns surrounding Melifonwu stem from another injury that casts some doubt on his availability at the beginning of the season (albeit not enough to place him on injured reserve). Brian Branch’s move to safety is also resulting in a smaller role for him, yet
Melifonwu, too, is about to embark on the last year of his rookie deal. Thus, it would not be ideal to have another season marred by injuries, not to mention the uncertainty surrounding his position in the Lions’ secondary.
4. Levi Onwuzurike, the DT
Onwuzurike carried on his good performance from OTAs into training camp, rapidly dispelling any notion that he was in the running for a spot on the roster once pads came on. Even though he is fully recovered from back ailments, he even worked as a defensive end throughout camp, suggesting that he will play a variety of roles in the Lions’ defensive front.
But now that meaningful games are approaching, the 2021 second-round pick has to step up to the plate. It is time to stand out, regardless of his job or snap count, which will be noteworthy. Getting it done will be made much easier for him because he is in better health than he has been in years.
