A tough break for the Lions — and one that might spark debate about timing, recovery, and roster decisions. Edge rusher Josh Paschal will be sidelined for the rest of the season after the Detroit Lions let his activation window close without making a move. Many fans are already asking the same question: was this a carefully calculated decision, or a costly misstep as the playoff race heats up?
Paschal had been back at practice for three weeks within the league’s 21-day acclimation period following his placement on the non-football injury list. However, the team ultimately decided not to activate him before the deadline, meaning he’s ineligible to return this year and reverts to the injury list.
Asked about the situation during Sunday’s session, head coach Dan Campbell explained that time simply ran out. “It just wasn’t enough time to be confident he could hold up through the rest of the season or that he was ready,” Campbell said. “Hate it for him, but that’s where it was.” Campbell’s honesty suggests a balance between caution and regret — though some fans may wonder if the team was too conservative given the current urgency.
The 2022 second-round pick has spent much of this year trying to recover from a lingering back injury that derailed his timeline from the start. He missed training camp and, despite early optimism about an in-season return, progress was slower than expected. After returning to the practice field on November 5, reports indicated that Paschal still hadn’t reached full readiness, leaving coaches uncertain about his durability for game action.
Paschal now closes out his time in Detroit with modest career numbers: five sacks over 36 appearances, including 18 starts. He’s yet to record more than two sacks in a single season, with his 14-game stretch last year standing as his most extensive run. As he enters free agency next spring, the question looms — will another team take a chance on his potential if health concerns persist?
In the meantime, the Lions’ pass-rush rotation has shifted again. Marcus Davenport returned to play against the Green Bay Packers last week, logging 24 snaps after missing time since Week 2. His comeback reduced Al-Quadin Muhammad’s workload to 19 snaps, while Tyler Lacy was designated a healthy scratch. Had Paschal been activated, Campbell could’ve deployed him in a flexible inside-outside role — a depth boost Detroit could certainly use down the stretch.
Instead, the Lions now move forward without him, staring down five critical games to close the year. Paschal’s last in-game contribution remains the divisional-round clash with the Washington Commanders last postseason. What impact might this missed window have on both his career and Detroit’s playoff momentum?
Here’s the bigger question: did the Lions make the right call keeping him sidelined, or could a bolder move have paid off when it mattered most? Fans — what do you think? Should the coaching staff have taken that risk, or did they do the smart thing playing it safe?
