The Detroit Lions are rolling into their Week 1 showdown against the New Orleans Saints with some seriously head-scratching roster moves, especially on the defensive line. They just elevated veteran Ben Stille from the practice squad and pulled off a wild move bringing Levi Onwuzurike back to the practice squad, literally one day after cutting him from the 53-man roster.
The Contract Hustle and Stille’s Big Shot
So, what’s up with Onwuzurike? It’s all about that paper. As a vested veteran, his $1.215 million contract would’ve been fully guaranteed if he stayed on the 53-man roster for Week 1. The Lions released him, saved the cash, and then immediately re-signed him to the practice squad. Pretty slick, right? He won’t play this week, but don’t be surprised if he’s back on the main squad next week.
Instead, the Lions are throwing Ben Stille into the fire. This dude plays a super similar role to Onwuzurike, but check this: he’s an undrafted guy out of Nebraska who hasn’t seen NFL action since Week 9 of 2024 when he was with the Arizona Cardinals! He didn’t play a single game in 2025. Stille only joined the Lions about a week into training camp, but he must’ve made some serious waves with his strength and versatility to get this Week 1 nod.
Campbell’s Praise and a Risky Center Gamble
Lions coach Dan Campbell was hyped about Stille a couple weeks back, calling him “a pro, smart, really smart” and praising his “versatility, strong, very strong.” Campbell said Stille “can shed blocks, shock, shed, make plays” and “play fast enough” despite knowing his own limitations. Campbell loves that Stille can play big end, nose, and three-technique. That kind of versatility is huge, especially for a Week 1 call-up.
But here’s the real head-scratcher: The Lions straight up decided not to elevate Seth McLaughlin from the practice squad. What does that mean for Week 1? They’re going into the game without a clear backup center behind Juice Scruggs! Sure, starting right guard Tate Ratledge got some center reps in training camp as an emergency option, but talk about living on the edge for a season opener. That’s a huge gamble against the Saints.
So, the Lions are banking on Stille to fill a crucial defensive line spot and rolling the dice on their offensive line depth. With a major contract move and a risky center situation, this Week 1 battle against the New Orleans Saints is going to be incredibly telling. Will Stille be a surprise force, or will the lack of a clear backup center bite them? This is going to be one to watch for sure.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pride of Detroit.
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