Defensive end Ahmed Hassanein just blew up the box score, putting both Joe Burrow and Josh Johnson on their backs in a single game. This 2025 sixth-round pick, who was stuck on the practice squad last season, officially grabbed the spotlight big time.
Practice Squad Phenom Goes Off
When the Lions rested their starters for Thursday’s preseason game against the Bengals, Hassanein stepped up in a massive way. He’s been getting “good notices” in practice this summer for his pass rushing, and it absolutely translated to the field. His very first snap against Cincinnati resulted in a sack of superstar Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. Not content with that, he added a strip-sack on Josh Johnson later in the third quarter. Talk about making a statement!
Head coach Dan Campbell wasn’t shocked, telling reporters, “I don’t really feel like I’m surprised. I felt like he’d come out and make plays. Just the nature of the way he’s been practicing and some of the things he’s able to do you’d feel like would translate certainly into this first preseason game. It was good to see. He just plays maximum effort and he’s disruptive.” That’s high praise from a coach who demands effort.
What’s Next for Hassanein?
Despite the explosive performance, Hassanein still has some serious work ahead to carve out a spot in the lineup come September. Big names like Aidan Hutchinson, D.J. Wonnum, and second-round pick Derrick Moore were all out for Thursday’s game. But with an outing like this, Hassanein has absolutely turned heads. More performances like he had against the Bengals could force the coaches’ hands. You have to wonder what he’ll do next.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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