The Detroit Lions are already facing a demanding offseason, having to replace both offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, along with several key starters on both sides of the ball.
Now, veteran linebacker Alex Anzalone could be adding to the team’s concerns.
Anzalone, who is entering the final year of his contract with a $7.2 million cap hit, has been absent from the Lions’ voluntary offseason workouts. While there’s been no official word about a holdout or demands for a new deal, Anzalone’s activity on social media has raised eyebrows, particularly his posts emphasizing his importance to the Lions’ defense.
Though a fractured forearm limited Anzalone to just 10 games last season, he had logged back-to-back 100-tackle campaigns in the two years prior and has started all 57 games he’s played for Detroit. When healthy, he’s been a consistent presence on defense.
Set to turn 31 in September, Anzalone may be looking to maximize his earnings before age or injury impacts his market value. On the flip side, the Lions could be cautious, wanting to see if he can stay healthy through a full season before committing to a new deal.
