NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – DECEMBER 20: Romeo Okwara #95 of the Detroit Lions plays against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on December 20, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
The Detroit Lions have won four of five games, they are as healthy as they’ve been all season and they may be getting Romeo Okwara back soon.
Lost in last Saturday afternoon’s headline the Detroit Lions had activated rookie wide receiver Jameson Williams was how they’d also activated Romeo Okwara. The veteran edge rusher had been on IR all season, as he recovered from a torn Achilles he suffered in Week 4 last season.
Okwara was inactive for Sunday’s win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, which was not necessarily expected. But after the game, head coach Dan Campbell talked optimistically about Okwara’s chances to play soon.
Okwara led the Lions in his sacks with 7.5 in 2018, his first year with the team. He did it again in 2020, with 10 sacks. He was rewarded with a three-year, $37 million contract extension after that season, and made it four games before his major injury early last season.
Okwara’s recovery from his torn Achilles, due purely to being a larger man, was not as fast as Lions’ cornerback Jeff Okudah’s. Okudah suffered his injury in Week 1 last season, and he was cleared for the start of the training camp.
Will Romeo Okwara play in Week 14 against the Vikings?
During his Monday press conference, Campbell said they just wanted to give Okwara an extra week and that’s why he didn’t suit up against the Jaguars. Campbell also reiterated there’s a chance Okwara makes his season debut on Sunday against the Vikings. Wednesday’s practice will be the first indicator of course, and things will go from there as the practice week goes on.
The Lions were as healthy as they’ve been all season heading into the game against Jacksonville, and in some key ways it showed in the 40-14 blowout win. Okwara will surely be eased back into action with limited snaps when he suits up, but a Lions’ defense that has been playing well lately will welcome his addition off the edge.