John Cominsky has been a key piece of the Lions’ defensive line over the last two seasons, and here are some potential options to replace him.

Injuries were a prominent story at Detroit Lions’ training camp on Tuesday. The headliner was defensive lineman John Cominsky, who suffered a torn MCL in his right knee after being rolled up on. “The Commish” is out indefinitely, with the possibility he could return for the playoffs.

Wednesday morning, head coach Dan Campbell confirmed Cominsky will be out a long time while professing optimism about a return for the playoffs. As a matter of procedure, as noted by Erik Schlitt of Pride of Detroit, the Lions likely won’t place Cominsky on IR until final roster cuts to keep the option open for him to return late in the season. Putting him on IR now would eliminate that possibility.

Cominsky was a nice waiver wire find for the Lions in 2022. He became a key piece of the defensive line, registering four sacks and 44 quarterback pressures (according to Pro Football Focus) over 14 games. He also played with a club on his hand down the stretch of that season after thumb surgery only cost him two games, adhering himself to teammates and coaches.

Cominsky was not as productive overall last season. But his 569 snaps were still top-10 on the Lions’ defense, and the proverbial “dirty work” he does made him a valuable piece, and now he’s an underrated loss. Russell Brown of Lions Wire did a nice breakdown lauding Cominsky as a more impactful loss than people realize.

It felt like Cominsky was somewhere on the roster bubble as training camp got rolling, but if it came down to it he potentially would have had some preseason trade value.

As the Lions look for someone to replace Cominsky, here are some options that could be on the radar.

4 options Detroit Lions could explore to replace John Cominsky

4. Josh Paschal

Let’s start with an internal option. Injuries have impacted Paschal through his first two seasons (22 regular season games). He’s an edge rusher by labeled trade, but he has played across the defensive line in each of his two seasons when he’s been available. That’s the type of versatility Cominsky has offered, which is also not necessarily easy to replace.

In their rookie season, 2022, Paschal’s pressure rate (pressures divided by pass rush snaps, according to PFF) was not that far below Aidan Hutchinson’s (8.9 percent, vs. 9.4 for Hutchinson).

This is a pivotal season for Paschal. Cominsky’s injury could now open the door for him to have a big role as a versatile piece across the Lions’ defensive line. The stats may not always pop, but health may be all that holds Paschal back from having a third-year breakthrough.

3. Shaq Lawson

Lawson had a pretty rough 2023 season for the Buffalo Bills, coming in as PFF’s 107th-graded edge rusher out of 112 qualifiers (one sack over 321 defensive snaps). But overall he’s been a solid pass rusher over the course of his career, with alignment versatility as a defensive end and an edge rusher.

From 2017-2022, Lawson posted a PFF run defense grade of at least 61.8 each season. Free agent options that look like a fit aren’t plentiful, but Lawson stands out from others as a possible fit for the Lions as they possibly survey outside options to replace Cominsky.

2. Breeland Sparks

In the wake of Cominsky’s injury, Mike Payton of AtoZ Sports quickly reported that Sparks wanted to find a way to get into camp with the Lions as he eyes signing with an NFL team. Payton’s source offered the following quote when asked if the Lions are his top choice.

“Detroit for sure. He fell in love with Michigan fan base.”

Sparks played for the Michigan Panthers in the UFL this spring, tallying 9.5 sacks on his way to winning the league’s Defensive Player of the Year. He has had reported interest from the Tennessee Titans and the Carolina Panthers, and Payton’s report from Tuesday said one team that has had discussions with Sparks is still talking to him and he had visit there this week.

Sparks has some NFL experience. He was drafted in the second round of the 2018 draft by the Kansas City Chiefs, playing in 16 games and starting four as a rookie. He has not played an NFL regular season game since though, spending time with the Raiders, Cowboys, Giants, Bills and 49ers from their through final roster cuts in 2023.

After signing Panthers kicker Jake Bates, the Lions could go back to the UFL well here.

Lawson had a pretty rough 2023 season for the Buffalo Bills, coming in as PFF’s 107th-graded edge rusher out of 112 qualifiers (one sack over 321 defensive snaps. But overall he’s been a solid pass rusher over the course of his career, with alignment versatility as a defensive end and an edge rusher.

1. Levi Onwuzurike

The top internal option takes the top spot. Onwuzurike has had an excellent start to training camp, building off a strong run during OTAs in just the way Dan Campbell noted he needed to back then.

Onwuzurike has been getting work with the first and second-team defenses, out on the edge and inside as a three-technique. Campbell quickly mentioned the former second-round pick as an option to replace Cominsky on Wednesday morning (h/t to Nolan Bianchi of the Detroit News).

“Levi looks healthy and it’s the healthiest he’s been since he’s been here, and he’s coming on,” Campbell said. “This started in the spring, we kind of mentioned him. He’s earned it.”
“It’s clear that he’s been one of the best (players on the defensive line). I mean, it’s just clear. He plays with violence, he’s stout, he’s fundamentally better than he’s ever been, and he’s shown that he has some versatility,” Campbell said. “Between the big end in base and three-technique, he can play some big end in sub, in nickel, and he’s just earned it. He continues to go, he feels good, so he’s in a good place.”

So far, Onwuzurike has done everything he needs to do to assert himself as he leaves past back issues behind him. In the wake of Cominsky’s unfortunate injury, opportunity is now knocking even louder.