The Detroit Lions are entering a crucial training camp with aspirations of finally succeeding after previous playoff heartbreaks. Running back David Montgomery emphasizes the team's need to finish, stating, "This is the year for us. The year of the reckoning and the year that we choose that we need to finish." However, the team faces early challenges, particularly with injuries to the defense, which was already struggling last season. Defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike has been ruled out for the season due to a torn ACL, impacting the Lions' defensive rotation significantly.
"Everybody's tired of being close," Montgomery said. "It's cool to be close at first, but you don't want to get comfortable with being close all the time."
The Lions have suffered playoff heartbreak in each of the last two seasons. They were denied by an historic NFC Championship Game comeback by the San Francisco 49ers at the end of the 2023 campaign.
Detroit's primary issue last season was on the defensive side of the ball, as an injury-ravaged unit gave up 5.7 yards per play, the sixth-most in the NFL.
The defense has lost a key member on Sunday, with defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike ruled out for the season with a torn ACL.
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