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Detroit Lions bring back DT Levi Onwuzurike on short-term free agency deal

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Detroit Lions bring back DT Levi Onwuzurike on short-term free agency deal


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  • Levi Onwuzurike was the second-ever draft pick by Lions general manager Brad Holmes.
  • Onwuzurike had a modest four-year run with the Lions, making 10 starts and appearing in 42 games, but was coming off his healthiest and best season in 2024.

The Detroit Lions have made a habit of re-signing their 2021 draft picks. On Wednesday, they kept another one in the fold.

Defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike agreed to a one-year, $5.5 million contract with the Lions on the first official day of free agency, the Free Press has confirmed.

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A second-round pick out of Washington, Onwuzurike was the second-ever draft pick by Lions general manager Brad Holmes.

In the past 12 months, the Lions have re-signed four of their seven selections from the 2021 draft to long-term extensions. Last year, they signed first-round pick Penei Sewell, third-rounder Alim McNeill and fourth-rounder Amon-Ra St. Brown to contracts that totaled $339 million, and Friday they agreed to a three-year, $25.5 million deal to keep fourth-round pick Derrick Barnes from testing free agency.

Jermar Jefferson, the Lions’ seventh-round pick in 2021, has spent most of the past three seasons on practice squad and was not offered a futures deal after the season. Ifeatu Melifonwu, the Lions’ other third-round pick from that year, agreed to a one-year free agent deal with the Miami Dolphins on Tuesday.

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Onwuzurike had a modest four-year run with the Lions, making 10 starts and appearing in 42 games, but was coming off his healthiest and best season in 2024.

He played 16 of a possible 17 games as a backup as a rookie, then missed the 2022 season after undergoing spinal fusion surgery. Onwuzurike played 10 games upon his return in 2023, and had 1½ sacks last year while playing both as a big end and defensive tackle on the Lions’ defensive front.

The Lions tried to re-sign Onwuzurike before the start of last season, but the 27-year-old opted to bet on himself and his improved health and play out the season.

At defensive tackle, the Lions return McNeill and D.J. Reader as starters, and Chris Smith and Brodric Martin as backups. McNeill is coming off a torn ACL and might not be ready to start the season, and the Lions are expected to add to the position both perhaps in free agency and April’s draft.

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Dave Birkett will sign copies of his book, “Detroit Lions: An Illustrated Timeline,” at 7 p.m., March 24, at the Birmingham Public Library. 

Order your copy here

Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.





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Detroit, MI

The first Detroit Lions OC candidate has emerged

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The first Detroit Lions OC candidate has emerged


Blough is only two years into his coaching career after retiring from playing after the 2023 season. He has spent the last two seasons as the Washington Commanders’ assistant quarterbacks coach, helping young quarterback Jayden Daniels emerge as a strong franchise player for Washington. Late in the 2025 season, Commanders quarterbacks coach Tavita Pritchard took the Stanford head coaching job, leaving Blough to serve as the interim quarterbacks coach for the rest of the season.

While backing up Jared Goff in Detroit, Blough was often described by the coaching staff as an excellent backup and strong offensive mind.

“I love the kid, if I’m being totally honest with you,” Campbell said back in 2021. “He’s just a little football player. And when I say that, I mean that in the highest regard. Look, he’s smart. He’s extremely smart. He knows where to go with the football, I love his timing. He knows how to command the huddle, he communicates well and on top of that, he’s a hell of a dude, by the way. He just is. So, he has not disappointed. He’s doing a good job. He’s out there competing with the rest of those guys.”

As of now, this is the only known candidate for the Lions’ offensive coordinator position, but it’s still early in the process. When more candidates emerge, we’ll have a tracker so you can see all of the names in one place.

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Detroit, MI

Popular Detroit sports columnist announces stage 4 cancer diagnosis

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Popular Detroit sports columnist announces stage 4 cancer diagnosis


Longtime Detroit sports radio host and columnist Pat Caputo has been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer, he announced Monday.

Caputo, a host on Detroit’s 97.1 The Ticket, last published a column on Nov. 7. On Monday, he explained the reason behind his absence.

“For those wondering where I’ve been: I have been diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer, commonly referred to as a “death sentence” and had two other serious ailments which put me in ICU for several days,” Caputo wrote in a post to X. “It was sudden. I’ve literally been on my back for weeks. Bless you all.”

Caputo, 66, became a well-known personality in Detroit sports media during his time as an award-winning columnist for The Oakland Press from 1983-2020, according to the Detroit Free Press. He also was previously part of WXYT’s “Evening Sports” broadcast, and is an official voter for the Baseball Hall of Fame and college football’s Heisman Trophy award, according to his X bio.

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Caputo is nicknamed “The Book” for his impressive memory retaining sports stats and information, according to FOX 2 in Detroit, where he has been a regular guest on its “Sports Works” broadcast.

Caputo’s social media announcement regarding his health drew support from fellow sports media professionals, including Brad Galli, sports director at WXYZ Detroit, and ESPN’s Dan Wetzel and Dave Pasch.

“Pat, we’re praying for [you],” Galli wrote. “Awful awful awful to read this, man. God bless you.”

“Legend. Stay strong my friend. So much support out here for you,” Wetzel posted.

“Book, praying for you my friend. So sorry to hear this,” Pasch wrote.

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Murder trial starts this week in death of Detroit neurosurgeon Devon Hoover

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Murder trial starts this week in death of Detroit neurosurgeon Devon Hoover


DETROIT (WXYZ) — Desmond Burks’ murder trial starts this week. On Monday, he attended his pre-trial hearing. Burks faces first-degree murder, felony murder and larceny charges in the death of Dr. Devon Hoover.

The prominent Detroit neurosurgeon was found dead in his attic in April 2023 after Detroit police performed a wellness check. Investigators said he had been shot twice in the head and his body was wrapped in a blood-soaked carpet.

Watch Darren Cunningham’s video report below:

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Trial set to begin in Dr. Devon Hoover murder case

At the pre-trial, Judge Paul Cusick set the tone for how he expects the trial to go. It could last several weeks, according to court administration.

“Obviously, there’s always been respect shown to this court by the defendant and attorneys in this case, and all of the witnesses need to show the respect that is going to be required. There will be no outburst from any witnesses or anyone else during the proceedings,” the judge said.

Cusick discussed scheduling for the trial, starting with jury selection Wednesday and outlined restrictions for news media.

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“Media is prohibited from showing and/or publishing the faces of any civilian witnesses not employed by the government,” he read.

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Those same restrictions were in place during the preliminary hearing.

At the prelim, a number of people testified that they were former lovers of Desmond Burks.

Those men and women described Burks as a hustler and said he would send them money from an unknown Cash App and then have them send the money back to his Cash App.

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Watch our coverage of the third day of the preliminary hearing below:

Day 3 concludes in Desmond Burks’ preliminary hearing in murder of Dr. Devon Hoover

Burks is accused of stealing more than $30,000 from Hoover via credit card and fraudulent bank transactions, and Burks allegedly used other people to execute his plan.

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Investigators said text messages revealed Burks had an intimate relationship with Hoover and was sometimes paid for sexual services.

Watch our coverage of the second day of the preliminary hearing below:

Mystery backpack focus of testimony during day 2 of Hoover preliminary hearing

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Testimony from the prelim also revealed that authorities zeroed in on Burks, in part, through cellphone records and surveillance footage involving Hoover’s stolen truck.

During the trial, we may hear from a close relative of Burks who identified him in surveillance footage during the prelim. The footage allegedly shows Burks walking away from Hoover’s stolen vehicle.

Watch our coverage of the first day of the preliminary hearing below:

Preliminary hearing begins for man charged with killing Dr. Devon Hoover

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The jury selection process is scheduled to start at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday.





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