Breakout defender feeling refreshed, ready to roll for Detroit Lions…

ALLEN PARK — Alim McNeill and the Detroit Lions always seemed to have Week 18 circled for the breakout defensive lineman’s return to action from a sprained knee.

And with McNeill back at practice and in his on-brand upbeat and optimistic mood, it’s looking and sounding likely the stud interior defender is back in the middle against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 18. Hitting that goal is something that means a lot to McNeill, too.

“That was, that’s what helped me through this in a way,” McNeill said. “Just me telling myself that and just pushing for that goal. But, yeah, that was definitely comforting and good to know. It was also good to know that I didn’t need surgery and all that stuff. Fortunately, I didn’t need that. It was just a sprain, so I just let it calm right down, healed back up.