The Lions will be without one of their best defensive players down the stretch -- and possibly into the playoffs.
The club placed Alim McNeill on injured reserve Tuesday, meaning he is out for at least the next four games. McNeill suffered a leg injury after colliding with teammate Aidan Hutchinson in the Lions' win over the Saints last Sunday.
McNeill's absence will leave a hole in the interior of Detroit's defensive line. He's been one of the Lions' only consistently disruptive players up front. In fact, McNeill has been one of the 10 best interior defenders in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus. He has 31 tackles and five sacks in 12 games, plus 33 quarterback pressures.
The earliest McNeill can return is the Lions' season-finale against the Vikings. Without him, Detroit will look for more out of defensive tackles Isaiah Buggs, Levi Onwuzurike and rookie Brodric Martin, all of whom were inactive against the Saints.
The Lions are also bringing in outside help, signing veteran defensive tackle Tyson Alualu on Tuesday. The former first-round pick will start out on the practice squad, like veteran pass rusher Bruce Irvin did last month.
In a corresponding move, the Lions elevated cornerback Kindle Vildor from the practice squad to the active roster. The club is 9-3 with a three-game lead in the NFC North with five games to go.