DT · #54 · Detroit Lions · week 8 vs Minnesota Vikings · Sun Nov 1 · 1:00 PM ET

Alim McNeill

ROLE a starter
CLASS 2021 · R3 P72
EXP 5 seasons
AGE 25-28
DEPTH LDT1

99%PLAY EXPECTED

As of week 8, Alim McNeill was a DT for DET, age 26.3, 5 seasons of experience, drafted in round 3. In 2026 through week 7 he was listed at depth rank 1 on his club's depth chart; he had played 6 games on 81% of snaps; his line was 2 tackles a game, 0.6 sacks a game and 0.2 passes defended a game. Before 2026 he played 74 games (postseason included) over 5 seasons. His injury history held 6 episodes (knee 2, abdomen 1, concussion 1), 2 of them reaching OUT, 1 a repeat of an earlier site; the last was an abdomen injury in 2025 week 18.

The full read

In short

How our call moved in week 8

100500

84%97%97%97%97%99%99%99%99%99%99%99%99%99%99%

Wed 6:30 PM ETSun 11:02 AM ET

our call, P(plays)

84% LIKELY → 99% EXPECTED

Every call we wrote for him in week 8, earliest first, as written.

In short

Alim McNeill is a starter at left defensive tackle for DET — 92% of the snaps in his best week of 7. He has a not injury related - resting player injury. In week 8 he did not practise, then practised in full. His team has not listed him on the final report. We say he plays — 99%, in a band that plays 94% of the time. We have said PLAY since 92 hours before kickoff.

The reader concurs · grade B

P2 quotes Campbell framing the Wednesday absences as planned veteran maintenance -- "I'm going to hold a couple of other guys back just to get them off their feet" -- and names McNeill among the group, matching the dossier's 'Not injury related - resting player' tag (P2).

What the read cites

	What was reported	Source
1	“I'm going to hold a couple of other guys back just to get them off their feet”	Detroit Free Press · 2026-10-28
2	“Along with Hutchinson and Gibbs, Alim McNeill, Tyleik Williams, DJ Wonnum and Penei Sewell were among those who did not practice Wednesday,”	Detroit Free Press · 2026-10-28
3	“Some of that was veteran rest and not injury related with edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, defensive lineman Alim McNeill, tackle Penei Sewell and edge rusher DJ Wonnum getting a day off. All four were back at it Thursday.”	Detroit Lions · 2026-10-29

The reader's full reasoning

The rest of the reading

P1 confirms the rest group, McNeill included, "were back at it Thursday," consistent with the dossier's Thu/Fri Full participation and an improving week shape (P1). No passage describes any current injury, aggravation, or game-status designation for McNeill, so nothing in the prose contradicts the PLAY call.

15versions in week 8

10average, every player

54most for one player

How the call moved

EXPECTED since Thu Oct 29 · 2:10 AM ET · 84 h before kickoff. Biggest move: 84% → 97%, Wed Oct 28 · 6:30 PM ET to Thu Oct 29 · 2:10 AM ET, after: joined the injury report (Did Not Participate In Practice).

Our call

Injury report

Our call · week 8

NOT EXPECTEDUNLIKELYCOIN FLIPLIKELYEXPECTED

99% · EXPECTED

we expect him to play — this band plays 94% of the time (92–96%), measured out of fold. We stand behind this one.

Practice in week 8

Fri	Thu	Wed
FPdated Fri Oct 30	FPdated Fri Oct 30	DNPdated Fri Oct 30

Shape of the week: improving. Only days the publisher dated are shown; a day we could not date is left out until the nightly sweep stamps it. The shape is a fact, not a forecast.

Head start

Our call Wed Oct 28 · 6:30 PM ET
Kickoff Sun Nov 1 · 1:00 PM ET

The evidence behind his current call

What was reported	Source
“Some of that was veteran rest and not injury related with edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, defensive lineman Alim McNeill, tackle Penei Sewell and edge rusher DJ Wonnum getting a day off. All four were back at it Thursday.”	Detroit Lions · Thu Oct 29
“Along with Hutchinson and Gibbs, Alim McNeill, Tyleik Williams, DJ Wonnum and Penei Sewell were among those who did not practice Wednesday,”	Detroit Free Press · Wed Oct 28

From the same articles (these quotes do not name him)

What was reported	Source
“I'm going to hold a couple of other guys back just to get them off their feet”	Detroit Free Press · Wed Oct 28

Stats, with ranges — dot = his average, bar = his game range

Tackles / game2.0 range 1.0–3.0
wk 1–8 · 7 games
Sacks / game0.6 range 0.0–1.0
wk 1–8 · 7 games · above most of his peers
Passes defended / game0.1 range 0.0–1.0
wk 1–8 · 7 games
Snap share80.1% range 71–92
wk 1–8 · 7 games

Snaps by week — his larger of the offence and defence share

92%wk 1
89%wk 2
73%wk 3
83%wk 4
71%wk 5
78%wk 7
75%wk 8

Missed while on the injury report

Season	Weeks on the report	Missed while listed
2026	2	0

Only the weeks he was on the injury report with a recorded result — not every game of his career.

Medical history

When	Injury	Weeks on a report	Worst status
2026 · wk 8	Not injury related	1	—
2026 · wk 3	Not injury related	1	—
2025 · wk 17	abdomen	2	Out
2025 · wk 5	knee	3	Out
2024 · wk 15	concussion	1	—
2024 · wk 4	shoulder	1	—
2023 · wk 18	knee	1	Questionable
2021 · wk 14	illness	1	Questionable

Every injury episode on file for him, as the record holds it.

Injury history by season · 6 episodes · plus 2 not injury related · 11 weeks on a report · same site more than once: knee ×2

2021

illness · 1w

2023

knee · 1w

2024

concussion · 1wshoulder · 1w

2025

abdomen · 2wknee · 3w

2026

Not injury related · 1wNot injury related · 1w

Weeks 1–18

ruled out
questionable
listed, and played

Each bar is one episode: the week it began and how many weeks he was on a report, coloured by the worst status.

The rest of his team's report in week 8

Player	Pos	Practice	Whose word	Call	Chance he plays	Band
DJ Wonnum	DE	FULL	ours	PLAY	95%	EXPECTED
Penei Sewell	T	FULL	ours	PLAY	99%	EXPECTED
Amon-Ra St. Brown	WR	FULL	ours	PLAY	99%	EXPECTED
Isiah Pacheco	RB	UNK	team's word	—
Aidan Hutchinson	DE	FULL	ours	PLAY	98%	EXPECTED
Kerby Joseph	S	LTD	team's word	Out
Roger McCreary	CB	LTD	team's word	Questionable
Jacob Saylors	RB	FULL	ours	PLAY	92%	EXPECTED
Jahmyr Gibbs	RB	FULL	ours	PLAY	99%	EXPECTED
Giovanni Manu	OL	UNK	team's word	Out
Mekhi Wingo	DT	UNK	team's word	Out
Thomas Harper	SAF	UNK	team's word	—
Ennis Rakestraw Jr.	CB	FULL	ours	PLAY	96%	EXPECTED
Seth McLaughlin	C	UNK	team's word	Out
Jackson Meeks	TE	UNK	team's word	Out
Tyleik Williams	DT	FULL	ours	PLAY	86%	EXPECTED
Ahmed Hassanein	DE	UNK	team's word	Out
Bishop Fitzgerald	SAF	UNK	team's word	Out

The model reads the room: who else is out shifts what his own designation is worth.

The evidence behind his earlier calls

The evidence behind the call made Wed Oct 28 · 6:30 PM ET

We have not read the news for this player this week.

The evidence behind the call made Thu Oct 29 · 2:10 AM ET

We have not read the news for this player this week.

The evidence behind the call made Thu Oct 29 · 7:02 AM ET

We have not read the news for this player this week.

The evidence behind the call made Thu Oct 29 · 12:05 PM ET

What was reported	Source
“Along with Hutchinson and Gibbs, Alim McNeill, Tyleik Williams, DJ Wonnum and Penei Sewell were among those who did not practice Wednesday,”	Detroit Free Press · Wed Oct 28

From the same articles (these quotes do not name him)

What was reported	Source
“"I'm going to hold a couple of other guys back just to get them off their feet," he said.”	Detroit Free Press · Wed Oct 28

The evidence behind the call made Thu Oct 29 · 5:05 PM ET

What was reported	Source
“Along with Hutchinson and Gibbs, Alim McNeill, Tyleik Williams, DJ Wonnum and Penei Sewell were among those who did not practice Wednesday,”	Detroit Free Press · Wed Oct 28

From the same articles (these quotes do not name him)

What was reported	Source
“"I'm going to hold a couple of other guys back just to get them off their feet," he said.”	Detroit Free Press · Wed Oct 28

The evidence behind the call made Fri Oct 30 · 2:10 AM ET

What was reported	Source
“Along with Hutchinson and Gibbs, Alim McNeill, Tyleik Williams, DJ Wonnum and Penei Sewell were among those who did not practice Wednesday,”	Detroit Free Press · Wed Oct 28

From the same articles (these quotes do not name him)

What was reported	Source
“"I'm going to hold a couple of other guys back just to get them off their feet," he said.”	Detroit Free Press · Wed Oct 28

The evidence behind the call made Fri Oct 30 · 7:05 AM ET

What was reported	Source
“Along with Hutchinson and Gibbs, Alim McNeill, Tyleik Williams, DJ Wonnum and Penei Sewell were among those who did not practice Wednesday,”	Detroit Free Press · Wed Oct 28

From the same articles (these quotes do not name him)

What was reported	Source
“"I'm going to hold a couple of other guys back just to get them off their feet," he said.”	Detroit Free Press · Wed Oct 28

The evidence behind the call made Fri Oct 30 · 12:05 PM ET

What was reported	Source
“Along with Hutchinson and Gibbs, Alim McNeill, Tyleik Williams, DJ Wonnum and Penei Sewell were among those who did not practice Wednesday,”	Detroit Free Press · Wed Oct 28

From the same articles (these quotes do not name him)

What was reported	Source
“"I'm going to hold a couple of other guys back just to get them off their feet," he said.”	Detroit Free Press · Wed Oct 28

The evidence behind the call made Fri Oct 30 · 4:50 PM ET

What was reported	Source
“Along with Hutchinson and Gibbs, Alim McNeill, Tyleik Williams, DJ Wonnum and Penei Sewell were among those who did not practice Wednesday,”	Detroit Free Press · Wed Oct 28

From the same articles (these quotes do not name him)

What was reported	Source
“"I'm going to hold a couple of other guys back just to get them off their feet," he said.”	Detroit Free Press · Wed Oct 28

The evidence behind the call made Fri Oct 30 · 5:02 PM ET

What was reported	Source
“Along with Hutchinson and Gibbs, Alim McNeill, Tyleik Williams, DJ Wonnum and Penei Sewell were among those who did not practice Wednesday,”	Detroit Free Press · Wed Oct 28

From the same articles (these quotes do not name him)

What was reported	Source
“"I'm going to hold a couple of other guys back just to get them off their feet," he said.”	Detroit Free Press · Wed Oct 28

The evidence behind the call made Sat Oct 31 · 7:05 AM ET

What was reported	Source
“Along with Hutchinson and Gibbs, Alim McNeill, Tyleik Williams, DJ Wonnum and Penei Sewell were among those who did not practice Wednesday,”	Detroit Free Press · Wed Oct 28

From the same articles (these quotes do not name him)

What was reported	Source
“"I'm going to hold a couple of other guys back just to get them off their feet," he said.”	Detroit Free Press · Wed Oct 28

The evidence behind the call made Sat Oct 31 · 12:02 PM ET

What was reported	Source
“Some of that was veteran rest and not injury related with edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, defensive lineman Alim McNeill, tackle Penei Sewell and edge rusher DJ Wonnum getting a day off. All four were back at it Thursday.”	Detroit Lions · Thu Oct 29
“Along with Hutchinson and Gibbs, Alim McNeill, Tyleik Williams, DJ Wonnum and Penei Sewell were among those who did not practice Wednesday,”	Detroit Free Press · Wed Oct 28

From the same articles (these quotes do not name him)

What was reported	Source
“"I'm going to hold a couple of other guys back just to get them off their feet," he said.”	Detroit Free Press · Wed Oct 28

The evidence behind the call made Sat Oct 31 · 5:06 PM ET

What was reported	Source
“Some of that was veteran rest and not injury related with edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, defensive lineman Alim McNeill, tackle Penei Sewell and edge rusher DJ Wonnum getting a day off. All four were back at it Thursday.”	Detroit Lions · Thu Oct 29
“Along with Hutchinson and Gibbs, Alim McNeill, Tyleik Williams, DJ Wonnum and Penei Sewell were among those who did not practice Wednesday,”	Detroit Free Press · Wed Oct 28

From the same articles (these quotes do not name him)

What was reported	Source
“"I'm going to hold a couple of other guys back just to get them off their feet," he said.”	Detroit Free Press · Wed Oct 28

The evidence behind the call made Sun Nov 1 · 6:06 AM ET

What was reported	Source
“Some of that was veteran rest and not injury related with edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, defensive lineman Alim McNeill, tackle Penei Sewell and edge rusher DJ Wonnum getting a day off. All four were back at it Thursday.”	Detroit Lions · Thu Oct 29
“Along with Hutchinson and Gibbs, Alim McNeill, Tyleik Williams, DJ Wonnum and Penei Sewell were among those who did not practice Wednesday,”	Detroit Free Press · Wed Oct 28

From the same articles (these quotes do not name him)

What was reported	Source
“"I'm going to hold a couple of other guys back just to get them off their feet," he said.”	Detroit Free Press · Wed Oct 28

The evidence behind the call made Sun Nov 1 · 11:02 AM ET

What was reported	Source
“Some of that was veteran rest and not injury related with edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, defensive lineman Alim McNeill, tackle Penei Sewell and edge rusher DJ Wonnum getting a day off. All four were back at it Thursday.”	Detroit Lions · Thu Oct 29
“Along with Hutchinson and Gibbs, Alim McNeill, Tyleik Williams, DJ Wonnum and Penei Sewell were among those who did not practice Wednesday,”	Detroit Free Press · Wed Oct 28

From the same articles (these quotes do not name him)

What was reported	Source
“I'm going to hold a couple of other guys back just to get them off their feet”	Detroit Free Press · Wed Oct 28

Role

Call history

The data behind this page — the timeline in words, every call and week on record, about him, and what this page does not show

Profile — as of week 8


Role	DT1 · 81% snaps
Season	2026 · 6 games through wk 7
Per game	2 tackles · 0.6 sacks · 0.2 passes defended
Career	5 seasons · 74 games before 2026
Injuries	6 episodes · last: abdomen, 2025 wk 18
Bio	age 26.3 · 5 seasons' experience · drafted round 3

Where the profile comes from

Built from: honors.db; nflverse injuries_2026.csv; medical.db; nflverse players.csv; profile.db; nflverse roster_2026.csv; nflverse roster_weekly_2026.csv; nflverse snap_counts_2026.csv; nflverse stats_player_week_2026.csv. Every number in it is one those sources hold.

nflverse injuries_2026.csv

About him

About him	As the record holds it
His role	a starter at left defensive tackle — 92% of the snaps in his best week of 7
Listed on the depth chart	first at left defensive tackle
Snaps played	80% a week on average over 7 weeks, 92% at his highest, 17% on special teams
Build	6 ft 2 in · 310 lb
College	N.C. State
Drafted	2021, round 3 pick 72, by DET
Age	25-28 at the season's start
Experience	5 seasons

When this call was made, and when the world knew

Wed Oct 28 · 6:30 PM ETWrittenWe first said PLAY.
Sun Nov 1 · 1:00 PM ETPublicOur call became public when the week settled.
Sun Nov 1 · 1:00 PM ETKickoffKickoff.

How our call moved, earliest first

When	Lead	Call	Chance he plays	Band	On what
Wed Oct 28 · 6:30 PM ET	92 h	PLAY	84%	LIKELY	before his team said anything
Thu Oct 29 · 2:10 AM ET	84 h	PLAY	97%	EXPECTED	before his team said anything
Thu Oct 29 · 7:02 AM ET	79 h	PLAY	97%	EXPECTED	before his team said anything
Thu Oct 29 · 12:05 PM ET	74 h	PLAY	97%	EXPECTED	before his team said anything
Thu Oct 29 · 5:05 PM ET	69 h	PLAY	97%	EXPECTED	before his team said anything
Fri Oct 30 · 2:10 AM ET	60 h	PLAY	99%	EXPECTED	before his team said anything
Fri Oct 30 · 7:05 AM ET	55 h	PLAY	99%	EXPECTED	before his team said anything
Fri Oct 30 · 12:05 PM ET	50 h	PLAY	99%	EXPECTED	before his team said anything
Fri Oct 30 · 4:50 PM ET	45 h	PLAY	99%	EXPECTED	before his team said anything
Fri Oct 30 · 5:02 PM ET	45 h	PLAY	99%	EXPECTED	before his team said anything
Sat Oct 31 · 7:05 AM ET	31 h	PLAY	99%	EXPECTED	before his team said anything
Sat Oct 31 · 12:02 PM ET	26 h	PLAY	99%	EXPECTED	before his team said anything
Sat Oct 31 · 5:06 PM ET	21 h	PLAY	99%	EXPECTED	before his team said anything
Sun Nov 1 · 6:06 AM ET	7 h	PLAY	99%	EXPECTED	before his team said anything
Sun Nov 1 · 11:02 AM ET	2 h	PLAY	99%	EXPECTED	before his team said anything

15 calls in week 8, and the call never flipped between PLAY and SIT. Each lead time is the one that call actually had when it was written — never recounted from now. A call that changes is the record working: new evidence arrived and we said so, in public, before the game.

What would change this read

What would change this read
Friday Oct 30 final injury report: whether McNeill carries any game-status designation (Out/Doubtful/Questionable/none)
Any Dan Campbell comment Oct 29-31 specifically on McNeill's health or workload for the Nov 1 game
Sunday Nov 1 Detroit inactives list
Confirmation that McNeill appeared as a full participant on both the Thursday and Friday club practice reports with no injury tag