The Lions' worst fears have been confirmed on Romeo Okwara.
Detroit's top pass rusher suffered a torn Achilles in Sunday's loss to the Bears and is done for the season, according to Ian Rapoport. Dan Campbell confirmed the news Monday afternoon.
"I hate that for Romes, man," Campbell said. "The way he works and everything he’s put into this, he’s a top-notch pro. I hate it for him and I hate it for our team, but I know he’ll come back better than ever next year."
Indeed, it's brutal news for both Okwara and the Lions. Okwara just signed a three-year, $37 million deal to be one of the cornerstones of the new regime; who knows how he'll look on the other side of an awful injury. And Detroit's defense was already struggling with Okwara; who knows how it'll look without him.
Okwara had just one sack in four games this year, but he was consistently getting to the quarterback. He had a team-high 16 pressures and was one of Detroit's lone disruptors on a defense that's allowed the fourth most points in the NFL.
That makes it two defensive starters the Lions have lost to a torn Achilles this year, after CB Jeff Okudah suffered the same injury in the season-opener. Okwara's brother and fellow OLB Julian Okwara can expect a bigger role moving forward.