After a lengthy rehab from a torn Achilles’, Lions defensive end Romeo Okwara returned to practice and started his activation window on Wednesday.
The Detroit Lions have had some (too much) recent experience with Achilles’ tears. Week 1 last year, it was cornerback Jeff Okudah. Week 3 this season, it was safety Tracy Walker. In Week 4 last season, just before a certain writer started covering the team, it was defensive end Romeo Okwara.
Okudah made a full, quick, recovery and he is playing the best football of his career this season. Okwara, who was injured three weeks later and faced a more challenging recovery due purely to being a larger man, is 13-14 months out from his injury.
Among the injury updates offered on Wednesday, came the news Okwara would practice on Wednesday. Thus, the 21-day clock to activate him has also started. Until he is activated, he will stay on the PUP list and not count on the Lions’ 53-man roster.
Romeo Okwara will be welcome addition (re-addition) to Detroit Lions defense
Okwara has had an up-and-down run with the Lions. In his first year with the team, 2018, he had a team-high 7.5 sacks. He dropped to 1.5 sacks in 2019 (over 14 games), then he rebounded to lead the team again with 10 sacks in 2020. He had one sack before his injury last year.
The Lions rewarded him for that 2020 breakout with a three-year, $37 million contract. He played four games last year before the major injury.
The Lions has struggled to consistently put pressure on quarterbacks again this season, so whatever Okwara can contribute will be welcome. It’s still not a complete guarantee he plays this season, but starting his activation window is a huge step and it wouldn’t have been done right now if the team didn’t expect him to play.
As for when Okwara will play? Sunday against the New York Giants is not happening, unless there’s shift away from taking it slow with him, then the Lions have a short week before playing the Buffalo Bills on Thanksgiving Day. So Week 13 against the Jacksonville Jaguars seems ideal if he’s ready to go. The Wednesday before Week 14 against the Minnesota Vikings is the end of his 21-day activation window.