O'Connor and the Lions agreed on a contract Tuesday.
O'Connor will return to Detroit after recording a career-high 18 tackles (five solo), including 1.0 sacks, over 12 regular-season games in 2024. The defensive end will provide the Lions with a depth option behind Aidan Hutchinson (lower leg) and Josh Paschal off the edge.
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Lions' Patrick O'Connor: Earns rotational defensive role
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O'Connor (calf) logged 18 tackles (five solo), including 1.0 sacks, across 12 regular-season games in 2024.
O'Connor was signed to the Lions' active roster in mid-October after failing to make the cut at the end of training camp in late August. O'Connor was brought in to give Detroit much-needed depth on the defensive line following the losses of Aidan Hutchinson (leg), Marcus Davenport (triceps), Mekhi Wingo (knee) and Kyle Peko (pectoral). O'Connor made the most of his opportunity by logging career highs in combined tackles and defensive snaps (220). He suffered a calf injury during the Lions' regular-season finale against the Vikings, and it was severe enough for him to be sidelined for Detroits' NFC divisional-round loss to Washington. O'Connor enters the offseason as a free agent, and the 2017 seventh-round pick could opt to remain with the Lions or explore opportunities elsewhere.
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Lions' Patrick O'Connor: Not playing against Washington
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O'Connor (calf) has been ruled out for Saturday's NFC divisional-round game against the Commanders, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.
O'Connor injured his calf during the Lions' Week 18 win against the Vikings. Despite having a first-round playoff bye, O'Connor was unable to practice all week and will not play in the Lions' playoff opener Saturday. Jonah Williams and Al-Quadin Muhammad will serve as the Lions' rotational defensive ends behind starters Josh Paschal and Za'Darius Smith due to O'Connor's injury.
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Lions' Patrick O'Connor: Sits out practice Tuesday
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O'Connor (calf) didn't practice Tuesday.
O'Connor hurt his calf during the Lions' Week 18 matchup against Minnesota, and though Detroit had a first-round playoff bye, he hasn't recovered enough to take part in practice. The veteran defensive end will presumably need to log at least one practice session before the end of the week in order to have a chance of suiting up in the Lions' divisional-round matchup versus Washington on Saturday. If O'Connor can't play, Jonah Williams may be asked to step up and log more defensive snaps than usual.
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Lions' Patrick O'Connor: Done for night
Rotowire
O'Connor (calf) has been ruled out for the rest of Sunday night's matchup with the Vikings.
O'Connor will miss the remainder of the game as he nurses a calf injury. He'll now shift his focus to being ready for the postseason. In the meantime, Al-Quadin Muhammad will likely continue to see an elevated role on the defensive line for the Lions against Minnesota.
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Lions' Patrick O'Connor: Questionable to return to SNF
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O'Connor (calf) is questionable to return to Sunday night's contest against the Vikings.
O'Connor appears to have picked up a calf injury against Minnesota, placing some doubt on his ability to return to the team's regular-season finale. In O'Connor's absence, Al-Quadin Muhammad stands to see an increase in workload with Detroit's defensive line.
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Lions' Patrick O'Connor: Finds new home
Rotowire
O'Connor signed a contract with the Lions on Thursday.
O'Connor's addition to Detroit's defensive line comes after John Cominsky suffered an MCL tear during Tuesday's practice. The former spent the last six seasons in Tampa Bay, and although he played in 11 games with the Buccaneers in 2023, he logged only 41 snaps from scrimmage.
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Patrick O'Connor: Let go by Tampa Bay
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The Buccaneers released O'Connor on Tuesday, Scott Smith of the team's official site reports.
The move corresponds with the Bucs signing quarterback John Wolford off their practice squad to their active roster. O'Connor played 14 snaps across three games this season without accruing a stat.
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Patrick O'Connor: Re-signed to practice squad
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O'Connor was re-signed to the Buccaneers' practice squad Tuesday, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.
O'Connor made a quick return to the team facility, as he was just waived from the active roster Monday when the team needed a roster spot for running back T.J. Logan. The 2017 seventh-round pick hasn't seen regular-action since his rookie campaign, when he suited up for three games.
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Pat O'Connor: Inked to Lions' practice squad
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O'Connor has been signed to the Lions' practice squad, Tim Twentyman of the team's official site reports.
O'Connor could be called up this season if the team experiences injury woes at defensive end.
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Pat O'Connor: Waived by Lions
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O'Connor was waived by the Lions on Saturday, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.
O'Connor, a seventh-round pick in this year's draft, was outplayed by undrafted rookies Alex Barrett and Jeremiah Valoaga in training camp. The Lions likely intend to stash him on their practice squad, assuming he clears waivers.
