During the Week 15 game against the Buffalo Bills, it was clear that Detroit Lions defensive tackle Alim McNeill had sustained a serious injury, and it was soon confirmed that he had torn his right ACL, which caused him to miss the rest of the season. This injury added to the growing list of defensive injuries for Detroit. As the season concluded and players cleaned out their lockers, McNeill addressed the initial uncertainty surrounding his recovery timeline.
Regarding his recovery, McNeill shared, “As far as time-wise, I have no clue. I’m just taking it day by day right now. I’m just going through the process right now.”
The recovery period for an ACL tear typically ranges from 9 to 12 months. It’s still unclear if McNeill sustained any additional damage to his knee that might affect his rehab and recovery time, but as the offseason unfolds, more will be known.
Doctor confirms the inevitable about Alim McNeill
While in New Orleans for the Super Bowl, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press had a conversation with Dr. David Chao from Sports Injury Central on radio row, discussing the numerous injuries the Lions dealt with during the season.