Alim McNeill has been practicing for the Detroit Lions the last two weeks trying to get his legs back under him as he worked to get closer to return to game action from a torn ACL suffered last December.

The veteran defensive tackle looked like he had a little more pep in his step during Thursday's open portion of practice, and for good reason. McNeill is on track to make his 2025 regular season debut on Monday night at Ford Field against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

"One thousand percent," McNeill said Thursday when asked if knowing he's playing Monday has given him some extra juice at practice this week. "Probably slept a little longer last night, too, trying to get some more rest for the week.

"I'm 100 percent locked in right now and ready to go. This is the only thing I've been looking forward to. I don't know how to explain it to you. I've been waiting on this day for a long, long time."

McNeill hasn't played since tearing his ACL Dec. 15 in a loss to Buffalo. After surgery and 10 months of rehab, the Lions could unleash their talented interior defender on quarterback Baker Mayfield and the 5-1 Buccaneers.

"Mac brings a lot to us," Lions head coach Dan Campbell said. "Feel like he's going to bring a lot in the pass game because he is a guy we believe can win one-on-ones in the pass game, but also all that he can do in the run game.

"I mean he's stout, he's aggressive, he's powerful. So, I just think he's another player that can elevate those around him."

McNeill was the 10th highest graded interior defensive lineman by Pro Football Focus last year before the injury. He's a versatile player inside who can stop the run and generate pressure from the interior. He had 3.5 sacks, seven tackles for loss and 45 total quarterback pressures in 14 games in 2024.

His return would be a big boost for a Lions' defense that comes into Monday's contest ranked ninth in total defense (308.2), fourth in sacks (19.0) and tied for fifth in takeaways (9). He'll slot right in with veterans DJ Reader and Roy Lopez and rookie Tyleik Williams to form a talented and deep mix of versatile talent along the interior of Detroit's defensive front.

McNeill said he can't wait to get back to playing next to edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson and said the two have been working to get their chemistry back.

LIONS ADD VETERAN DEFENSIVE BACKS

Detroit signed safety Jammie Robinson off Kansas City's practice squad Thursday. The former fifth-round pick out of South Carolina appeared in 15 games for the Panthers in 2023 and spent the last two seasons on the practice squads in Arizona and Kansas City.

"We liked him coming out (in the 2023 Draft) and Brad (Holmes) and I were talking to him, Brad's kept an eye on him for a while, always kind of tracked where he's at, when he's been available," Campbell said Thursday.

"And so, to be able to poach him and get him for a few weeks here, it'll be good to get a look at him. But we do like him. He's aggressive, pretty tough kid, can play special teams. We think there's nickel, safety flex - probably starting with safety. But we like him, yeah. We'll get a peek at him."

The team also signed veteran cornerback Kendall Fuller to their practice squad this week. Fuller is a nine-year veteran with 128 games and 104 starts under his belt, mostly with the Washington Commanders.

"We know what he's been able to do in this league, he's a veteran player that has played a lot of football," Campbell said of Fuller. "So, he's got some banked reps on him. He's kind of like Jammie (Robinson). We'll get eyes on him and see what he looks like. Is there a potential to take him? I can't answer that right now. But at least it gives us another veteran guy we can look at."

The Lions are dealing with a number of injuries in their secondary with cornerbacks D.J. Reed, Terrion Arnold and Avonte Maddox not expected to be back until at least after Detroit's Week 8 bye. Detroit will also be without safety Brian Branch who will serve a one-game suspension Monday night.

Detroit's depth in the secondary includes Amik Robertson, Rock Ya-Sin, Nick Whiteside, Erick Hallett, Thomas Harper and Robinson with Fuller, Arthur Maulet and Tre Flowers on the practice squad.

BOUNCE-BACK TEAM

We have to go all the way back to October 2022 for the last time Detroit lost back-to-back games. That was a Week 7 game in Dallas (24-6) and a Week 8 contest vs. Miami (31-27).

"It's our players. Our players. We've got a good group of guys that are competitive, they're a resilient group, they know how to overcome adversity, they don't like losing and they go back to work to fix the things that need to be fixed," Campbell said.

"We've got a couple of things to clean up and we're going to clean them up this week. So, it's our players. Coaches do a hell of a job too."

Detroit will put that streak to the test Monday night against a Tampa Bay team with the best record in the NFL (5-1) after the first six weeks of the season.

EXTRA POINTS

• Left tackle Taylor Decker was back at practice Thursday, which is a good first step to getting him back in the lineup after he's missed the last two weeks with a shoulder injury.
• Aidan Hutchinson can become the third player since 2000 with a forced fumble in five consecutive games, joining Robert Mathis (2005 with Indianapolis) and Will Smith (2004-05 with New Orleans).