The Detroit Lions received devastating news on Tuesday, learning that John Cominsky tore his MCL.
Cominsky sustained the injury after seeming to get rolled up in a team drill during practice. The experienced defender is set to miss the entirety of the 2024 regular season owing to the injury.
It’s a huge blow to Detroit’s defensive lineman rotation, as Cominsky has played at numerous positions along the line over the past two seasons.
As a result, Lions general manager Brad Holmes will need to fill a vacuum, which he may do through the free-agent market. If he does, here are three defensive lineman he and the club may pursue at this time.
DE Breeland Speaks
Speaks may be the most natural choice to replace Cominsky.
Speaks, like recent Lions signee Jake Bates, played for the Michigan Panthers this spring, with home games at Ford Field.
The UFL product went on to record 9.5 sacks in 10 games, earning the league’s Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Speaks, a former second-round choice of the Kansas City Chiefs, also has prior NFL playing experience. He played 16 games for the Chiefs in 2018, starting four of them. The Ole Miss product has also played for the Raiders, Cowboys, New York Giants, Bills, and 49ers.
I think Speaks could be a solid rotational piece along Detroit’s defensive line.
DE Charles Harris
Harris, who played the last three seasons of his career for the Lions, is still a free agent.
Detroit released the veteran defensive end this offseason after he had his second consecutive dismal season. However, beggars can’t be choosers following the Cominsky injury, which may result in Harris’ reunion with the Lions.
His greatest season with Detroit came in 2021, when he recorded a career-high 7.5 sacks, as well as career highs in total tackles (65), tackles for loss (10), and quarterback hits (16).
DE Shaq Lawson
Lawson, the Buffalo Bills’ first-round pick in 2016, has never lived up to the expectations of a top draft pick. Nonetheless, he’s seen plenty of action as a pass-rusher during his professional career.
He’s had five or more quarterback hits in each season since 2017, including three straight years of double-digit quarterback hits from 2018 to 2020. He spent portions of six seasons with the Bills and has also played for the Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets.
While Lawson isn’t always a strong run defender, he has shown promise at times. With the Lions, he’d most likely be a situational pass rusher.
And, in the absence of Cominsky, I believe he would be an excellent late-season addition to Dan Campbell’s team.