Pride of Detroit
A trusted veteran with special teams chops and inside-out flexibility, Pat O’Connor enters camp with a familiar coach and a real shot at sticking in Detroit.
Training camp represents something different to every type of player in the NFL. For young players, it’s a chance to establish themselves as promising contributors. For star players, it’s time to remind everyone—including those young up-and-comers—that they’re the best at what they do. And for veterans on the proverbial roster bubbles, it’s one last shot to prove they still belong.
For defensive lineman Pat O’Connor, that opportunity means showing he can still add value to a loaded Detroit Lions front. The 31-year-old journeyman has carved out a role over the years with toughness, effort, and special teams reliability—but with younger talent pushing from below, O’Connor enters camp knowing nothing is guaranteed.
Previous previews: RB Sione Vaki, RB Jahmyr Gibbs, WR Jameson Williams, TE Sam LaPorta, OT Giovanni Manu, G Graham Glasgow, EDGE Aidan Hutchinson, DT Brodric Martin, LB Grant Stuard, CB Ennis Rakestraw, K Jake Bates
O’Connor was originally drafted by the Lions in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL Draft, but was cut at the end of training camp. He stuck around with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for seven seasons—be it on the practice squad or the active roster—before coming back to the Lions midway through training camp in 2024, signing with Detroit after John Cominsky suffered a torn MCL in practice.
With the Lions down a rotational defensive end, O’Connor could provide depth at the position should Detroit have to deal with any other injuries—they would. He also came to Detroit with a ton of experience on special teams, playing over 1,300 special teams snaps across all four phases with the Bucs.
Note: Stats are regular season only unless otherwise stated
12 games (0 starts)
Stats: 18 tackles, 1 quarterback hit, 1.0 sack, two tackles for loss
PFF defensive grade: 43.5 (130th out of 146 qualifying DTs—minimum 193 snaps)
PFF pass rush grade: 55.3 (t-111th out of 146)
PFF run defense grade: 47.9 (t-94th out of 146)
PFF tackling grade: 28.2 (t-136th out of 146)
Although he didn’t crack the initial 53-man roster, instead ending up on Detroit’s practice squad to begin the year, it wasn’t long before O’Connor earned a call-up. Promoted from the practice squad ahead of Week 7, O’Connor went on to contribute in all 12 remaining regular season games, playing a career-high 245 defensive snaps.
Beyond the number of snaps he played, what stood out most was O’Connor’s versatility. Known mostly as a defensive end in his time with the Buccaneers, he stepped in primarily at nose tackle following Kyle Peko’s season-ending injury in Week 6 against the Dallas Cowboys—giving the Lions valuable depth across the line and a trusted veteran in the locker room.
“The guys love him. I love him,” former Lions defensive line coach Terrell Williams said about O’Connor last season....
