Alex Anzalone's importance to the Detroit Lions' defense was reinforced during the 2024 campaign after he returned from injury and clearly provided a massive boost to the unit. Despite that, one NFL analyst thinks Anzalone is a cut candidate for 2025.

Injury prevention is at the forefront of everybody’s mind especially after the high number of injuries to the Detroit Lions defense in 2024. One actionable way to prevent injuries is to try to limit the number caused by friendly fire – teammates hitting each other.

Alex Anzalone, a linebacker, has played under Glenn in all eight of his NFL seasons and says the Jets are getting a no-nonsense coach who "knows when to push people" and also when "to uplift" them.

Anzalone finished the 2024 regular season with 63 total tackles (43 solo), including 1.0 sacks, while also adding five passes defensed over 10 games. Anzalone was a crucial piece of Detroit's defensive identity in 2024,

Look for the New York Jets to target these free agents with ties to head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey.

Former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is off to Chicago to lead the Bears. Former defensive Aaron Glenn is now the head coach of the New York Jets. Both will be missed in Detroit, but Campbell and company must move forward with the assistants remaining. That process has already begun.

Many of the Lions' top free agents on defense are coming off season-ending injuries, including Carlton Davis and Derrick Barnes.

The Detroit Lions are staying home for the NFC playoffs ... effort by the secondary against Justin Jefferson, and Alex Anzalone had a noticeable impact in his return from a fractured forearm.

Linebacker Alex Anzalone returns to a big pop from Detroit Lions fans ahead of their game vs. the Minnesota Vikings on Jan. 5, 2025, at Ford Field.

According to an NFL insider, former Detroit Lions defensive coordinator and New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn is expected to hotly pursue Lions free agents, including one of the team's linebackers.

The Detroit Lions' defense was decimated by injuries in 2024. Entering the year with plenty of promise, the Lions lost several key cogs in their operation to season-ending injuries over the course of the 18-game regular season.