The Detroit Lions have been one of the fearsome teams in football this season, as Dan Campbell’s team has gone 12-1 and held sole possession of first place in the NFC North for 14 weeks. The Lions have won a franchise-record 11 straight games after a 1-1 start and will look to extend their winning streak in Week 15 at Ford Field against the Buffalo Bills.
Although the Lions are tied for the best record in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs, the team has been ravaged by injuries, primarily on defense. Detroit’s front seven has several impact players on injured reserve, including defensive lineman John Cominsky. The 29-year-old suffered a torn MCL during a training camp towards the end of July and was placed on injured reserve a few weeks before the start of the season.
Cominsky could return from injured reserve for the playoffs, but the veteran’s serious injury couldn’t have come at a worse time, as the 2019 fourth-round pick is set to hit unrestricted free agency this offseason. It is not known what the Cominsky market will look like in the spring, but Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder believes the Ohio native will leave Detroit and sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this offseason.
Greg Gaines and William Gholston are impending free agents, which will leave Tampa Bay thin on the interior defensive line. Additionally, while Calijah Kancey and Logan Hall are good passers, both have issues against the run.
Cominsky would be a good choice since he can replace Gains and Gholston, and he has been a solid defender during his career to complement Kancey and Hall.
Granted, that pairing will depend on the 29-year-old’s health after suffering a torn MCL during training camp this summer.
Although Cominsky missed the entire 2024 campaign, the former Atlanta Falcon was a key player on the Lions’ defensive line last season, logging 566 snaps and posting 29 quarterback pressures in 16 matches. Cominsky’s most productive season came in 2022 when he collected a career-high four sacks and 44 quarterback pressuresaccompanied by a Quality 68.2 PFF.
The Buccaneers defensive line has been solid in 2024, as Tampa Bay has totaled 35 sacks in 13 games this year, ranking in the top ten in the league. While tackling the trenches isn’t a pressing need for general manager Jason Licht this offseason, defensive line depth is extremely vital in the modern NFL. Cominsky would be a savvy signing for the Bucs, as the veteran will be cheap to acquire and has thrived as a complementary passer with the Lions in 2022 and 2023.
Overall, Cominsky’s injury has created a lot of uncertainty regarding his future in Detroit. General manager Brad Holmes could look to bring back the former Charleston star due to his performance in previous years, but there’s also a good chance Cominsky won’t be a Lion in 2025.
Tampa Bay would be an intriguing landing spot for the battle-tested defensive lineman, as the Buccaneers defense could use another impactful passer with a high motor.
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