Detroit Lions May 2026 Offseason Injury Updates: Part 2
Checking in on Alim McNeill, Derrick Barnes, DJ Reed, Skyler Gill-Howard, and more
I hit upon many of the Detroit Lions returning injury concerns in my Offseason Injury Update May 2026: Part 1.
There are plenty more Lions offseason injury updates as the workout pictures keep rolling out at DetroitLions.com. Here are medical recaps and updates on Alim McNeill, Derrick Barnes, Jay Tufele, DJ Reed, Skyler Gill-Howard, and Payton Turner.
(Age at start of 2026 season in parentheses.)
Alim McNeill, DT (26)
December 2024 - ACL tear
October 2025 - Returned to game action…
May 2026 - Posted on Instagram…
2026 OUTLOOK: McNeill’s 2025 performance wasn’t up to his usual standards - an expected result in the first year back from an ACL. He should be fully back to his elite self in 2026.
Derrick Barnes, LB (26)
September 2024 - Right knee MCL/PCL with surgery which ended his season.
September 2025 - Listed with right knee injury. Did not miss a game all season.
May 2026 - Maybe the Lions heard K-Dawg’s concern, as this offseason workout picture of Barnes was posted a couple days later…
Barnes did not miss a game in 2025 and looked healthy throughout, so there wasn’t any active reason for concern. However, he was coming off a severe right knee injury in 2024, and was listed with a right knee in Week 3 of 2025.
There is always the possibility of residual cartilage damage or other issues that could have require a follow-up surgery this offseason. With his presence at offseason workouts, the likelihood of any residuals significantly decreases.
2026 OUTLOOK: Fully healthy entering the season with no concerns.
Jay Tufele, DT (27)
December 2025 - Foot injury ended his season.
May 2026 - Offseason workouts…
It’s unlikely the Lions would have signed Tufele as a free agent if he wasn’t recovered from his foot injury. Still, it’s good to see reassurance of his health at offseason workouts. He also had a foot injury back in high school which means there is concern for a recurrent issue there.
2026 OUTLOOK: My Jay Tufele Medical Report has his medical concern level at a 7/10 due to his recurring foot issues. It looks like he will be ready for the start of the season, but there are reliability concerns.
DJ Reed, CB (29)
September 2025 - Hamstring strain, missed 6 games.
May 2026 - Offseason workouts…