Chicago — Detroit Lions outside linebacker Romeo Okwara suffered a left leg injury late in the first quarter of Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears, requiring him to exit the field and head to the locker room.
Initially ruled as questionable to return with an ankle injury, that was changed to a foot injury when Okwara was ruled out just ahead of halftime. After the contest, coach Dan Campbell said, “It doesn’t look good at all,” while confirming there’s a strong possibility the linebacker has an Achilles injury.
Okwara suffered the injury while rushing the passer on a play where the Bears completed a 64-yard pass to receiver Darnell Mooney.
On the bench, trainers examined the lower half of Okwara’s left leg, around his ankle and calf. While standing, the defensive end briefly stumbled under his own weight before hobbling to the locker room with a member of the team’s medical staff.
Okwara is coming off a breakout season where he recorded 10 sacks in 2020. Through three games this season, he has one sack and several quarterback pressures.
As a free agent in the offseason, Okwara re-signed with the Lions, inking a three-year, $37 million contract.
In addition to Okwara, Lions center Frank Ragnow also left the contest, suffering a toe injury in the first quarter. He was replaced by Evan Brown on the team’s first possession of the second quarter.
“Frank, I think is better than (Okwara), but he may out for a little bit, too,” Campbell said after the game, suggesting the possibility of a multi-game absence.
Ragnow had played 100% of the team’s offensive snaps to that point.