John Cominsky, a former defensive end for the Detroit Lions, has decided to step away from professional football after injuries cut his career short.
Cominsky, who started 19 games for Detroit during the 2022 and 2023 seasons, missed the entirety of last season due to medical issues. On March 31, he took to social media to formally announce his retirement from the NFL.
Cominsky Reflects on His NFL Journey
In his Instagram post, Cominsky expressed that while he is proud of his career, the toll of accumulating injuries has made it impossible for him to continue playing.
“After six years in the league, I am officially retiring due to medical reasons,” he shared. “I’m proud of what I accomplished, but the combination of injuries I’ve sustained outweighs my drive to keep going.”
Cominsky’s football journey was unconventional—he came from a Division II background before the Atlanta Falcons selected him in the draft. He expressed gratitude toward the Lions for claiming him off waivers and providing him with both stability and a chance to extend his career.
The 29-year-old also acknowledged the impact of his teammates, emphasizing that his experiences in the NFL have taught him valuable lessons that will carry over into the next phase of his life.
“I’ve gained so much knowledge from my time on the field, and it will undoubtedly help me moving forward,” Cominsky wrote. “I was fortunate to play in high-stakes games and share the field with players I once looked up to. I’ve had the chance to meet Hall of Famers and form relationships with incredible people.”
Cominsky played a key role in the Lions’ 2023 postseason run, starting in all three playoff games en route to the NFC Championship. However, he suffered a torn MCL during training camp last year, sidelining him for the entire season. Despite this setback, he had not previously hinted at retirement.
Detroit Looking to Fill the Void
Since Cominsky’s preseason injury, the Lions have struggled to find a reliable edge rusher to complement Aidan Hutchinson. Hutchinson’s own season was cut short by injury in October, leaving Detroit without a dominant pass-rushing presence.
One potential option for the Lions is bringing back veteran Za’Darius Smith, who joined the team midway through last season and recorded four sacks in seven games. According to Colton Pouncy of The Athletic, Detroit may be leaving space on the roster in case Smith decides to return.
“There’s no urgency for him to sign anywhere,” Pouncy wrote. “It’s a situation similar to Von Miller—he seems to be taking his time and enjoying the offseason.”
Pouncy also suggested that the Lions could be waiting to see if Smith’s market remains limited, which might make Detroit a viable landing spot, similar to how they acquired C.J. Gardner-Johnson.
“If Smith remains unsigned, it makes me wonder if the Lions are keeping the door open,” Pouncy added. “Detroit played a patient approach with Gardner-Johnson, staying in contact with his agent, and when his market didn’t develop as expected, the Lions swooped in. It’s possible they’re taking the same approach with Smith.”
