Pat O'Connor Injury News & Updates
Keep up with the latest injuries from the Lions vs Rams game on Sunday with our National Football League injury report.Dec 8, 2025
Back with Detroit on practice squad
The Lions signed O'Connor (knee) to the practice squad Monday.
ANALYSIS
O'Conner appears to have fully recovered from a knee injury that caused him to be placed on injured reserve Nov. 14. The veteran defensive lineman and the Lions reached an injury settlement one day later, and he appears to have recovered enough to return to Detroit as a member of the team's practice squad.
Nov 15, 2025
Waived from injured reserve
The Lions waived O'Connor (knee) from injured reserve with an injury settlement Saturday.
ANALYSIS
O'Connor was placed on injured reserve Friday, so he'll be free to look for an opportunity elsewhere once healthy. The veteran defensive lineman has appeared in eight games this season, logging 10 tackles (five solo) and one pass breakup on 106 defensive snaps and another 143 on special teams.
Nov 14, 2025
Lands on IR
The Lions placed O'Connor (knee) on injured reserve Friday.
ANALYSIS
O'Connor didn't practice at all last week and missed Sunday's game against Washington. He was unable to return to practice this week and has consequently been placed on IR. The veteran defensive end must now miss at least four contests, so he won't be eligible to return until Sunday, Dec. 14 versus the Rams.
Nov 7, 2025
Won't play against Washington
O'Connor (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Commanders.
ANALYSIS
O'Connor was unable to practice all week due to a knee injury, and his next opportunity to play is Week 11 against the Eagles on Sunday, Nov. 16. He's mostly served on special teams this season, but his absence opens the door for Mekhi Wingo and Quinton Jefferson to see more rotational snaps at defensive tackle.
Aug 16, 2025
Past leg injury
O'Connor (leg) played in Saturday's preseason game against the Dolphins.
ANALYSIS
O'Connor exited practice with an injury two weeks ago but is past the issue and logged 17 defensive snaps. He's competing for a reserve role along Detroit's defensive line.
Aug 4, 2025
Exits practice Monday
O'Connor exited Monday's practice with a leg injury and was unable to return, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
The 31-year-old defensive lineman appeared in 12 regular-season games with the Lions last season, logging 18 tackles (five solo), including 1.0 sacks, while playing a career-high 236 defensive snaps along Detroit's defensive line.
Mar 18, 2025
Returning to Detroit
O'Connor and the Lions agreed on a contract Tuesday.
ANALYSIS
O'Connor will return to Detroit after recording a career-high 18 total tackles (five solo), including 1.0 sacks, over 12 regular-season games in 2024. The defensive end will provide the Lions with another depth option behind Aidan Hutchinson (lower leg) and Josh Paschal in 2025.
Jan 30, 2025
Earns rotational defensive role
O'Connor logged 18 tackles (five solo), including 1.0 sacks, across 12 regular-season games in 2024
ANALYSIS
O'Connor was signed to the Lions' active roster in mid-October after failing to make the cut at the end of training camp in late August. O'Connor was brought in to give Detroit much-needed depth on the defensive line following the losses of Aidan Hutchinson (leg), Marcus Davenport (triceps), Mekhi Wingo (knee) and Kyle Peko (pectoral). O'Connor made the most of his opportunity by logging career highs in combined tackles and defensive snaps (220). He suffered a calf injury during the Lions' regular-season finale against the Vikings, and it was severe enough for him to be sidelined for Detroits' NFC divisional-round loss to Washington. O'Connor enters the offseason as a free agent, and the 2017 seventh-round pick could opt to remain with the Lions or explore opportunities elsewhere.
Jan 16, 2025
Not playing against Washington
O'Connor (calf) has been ruled out for Saturday's NFC divisional-round game against the Commanders, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
O'Connor injured his calf during the Lions' Week 18 win against the Vikings. Despite having a first-round playoff bye, O'Connor was unable to practice all week and will not play in the Lions' playoff opener Saturday. Jonah Williams and Al-Quadin Muhammad will serve as the Lions' rotational defensive ends behind starters Josh Paschal and Za'Darius Smith due to O'Connor's injury.
Jan 14, 2025
Sits out practice Tuesday
O'Connor (calf) didn't practice Tuesday.
ANALYSIS
O'Connor hurt his calf during the Lions' Week 18 matchup against Minnesota, and though Detroit had a first-round playoff bye, he hasn't recovered enough to take part in practice. The veteran defensive end will presumably need to log at least one practice session before the end of the week in order to have a chance of suiting up in the Lions' divisional-round matchup versus Washington on Saturday. If O'Connor can't play, Jonah Williams may be asked to step up and log more defensive snaps than usual.
Jan 5, 2025
Done for night
O'Connor (calf) has been ruled out for the rest of Sunday night's matchup with the Vikings.
ANALYSIS
O'Connor will miss the remainder of the game as he nurses a calf injury. He'll now shift his focus to being ready for the postseason. In the meantime, Al-Quadin Muhammad will likely continue to see an elevated role on the defensive line for the Lions against Minnesota.
Jan 5, 2025
Questionable to return to SNF
O'Connor (calf) is questionable to return to Sunday night's contest against the Vikings.
ANALYSIS
O'Connor appears to have picked up a calf injury against Minnesota, placing some doubt on his ability to return to the team's regular-season finale. In O'Connor's absence, Al-Quadin Muhammad stands to see an increase in workload with Detroit's defensive line.
Aug 1, 2024
Finds new home
O'Connor signed a contract with the Lions on Thursday.
ANALYSIS
O'Connor's addition to Detroit's defensive line comes after John Cominsky suffered an MCL tear during Tuesday's practice. The former spent the last six seasons in Tampa Bay, most recently suiting up 11 times in 2023, but seeing just 41 snaps on defense.
Oct 31, 2023
Let go by Tampa Bay
The Buccaneers released O'Connor on Tuesday, Scott Smith of the team's official site reports.
ANALYSIS
The move corresponds with the Bucs signing quarterback John Wolford off their practice squad to their active roster. Should O'Connor clear waivers, he'll be able to explore his next options. He played 14 snaps across three games this season without accruing a stat.
Mar 18, 2023
Signed by Tampa Bay
O'Connor agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the Buccaneers on Saturday, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.
ANALYSIS
O'Connor will now return to the Buccaneers, where he's spent the entirety five year career. While the 2017 seventh-round pick may not have seen a lot of playing time on defense, he's been a key special teams contributor throughout his career, and will likely have a similar role for the upcoming season.
May 17, 2022
Participating in offseason workouts
O'Connor (knee) participated in the Buccaneers' offseason practice Tuesday, Greg Auman of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
O'Connor led the Buccaneers in special-teams snaps last year despite missing the final five games of Tampa Bay's season due to a PCL injury. He re-signed with the Buccaneers this offseason, and his participation at practice suggests the knee issue shouldn't be a problem heading into the 2022 season.
Apr 12, 2022
Staying with Tampa Bay
O'Connor (knee) signed a contract to remain with the Buccaneers on Tuesday, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
O'Connor did not originally receive a qualifying offer from the Buccaneers that would have made him an exclusive rights free agent this offseason, but will instead return to the team after re-signing as an unrestricted free agent. The fifth-year defensive lineman was Tampa Bay's team leader in special teams snaps with 341 last season despite suffering a PCL injury that forced him to miss the final five games of the 2021-22 campaign and should be ready to reprise his role as a core special teamer and rotational defensive lineman this coming regular season.
Dec 21, 2021
Lands on IR
O'Connor (knee) was placed on injured reserve Tuesday, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
O'Connor has been one of the team's top special teams performers this season, so his absence will be a big blow to those units. The severity of the injury remains unknown, but Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that it's potentially a season-ending PCL tear. O'Connor will be sidelined for at least three weeks with the over IR, but he will receive a second option before determining if his season is over.
Dec 19, 2021
Sustains knee injury
O'Connor didn't return to Sunday's loss to the Saints due to a knee injury, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
O'Connor was banged up in the fourth quarter of Sunday's matchup and was unavailable late in the game. He didn't record any counting stats prior to his departure, and it's not yet clear whether he'll be able to suit up against Carolina on Dec. 26.
Oct 13, 2021
Full participant Tuesday
O'Conner (calf) was a listed as a full participant for Tuesday's walkthrough.
ANALYSIS
O'Conner missed Sunday's win over the Dolphins due to the calf injury, but it appears his absence will be limited to one game. The 27-year-old has played only one defensive snap through four games this season.
Oct 8, 2021
Ruled out for Week 5
O'Connor (calf) has been ruled out for Tampa Bay's Week 5 contest against the Dolphins, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
O'Connor injured his calf during the week and will be unable to play in Week 5. Steve McLendon could see more snaps at defensive end Sunday with the former seventh-round pick by Detroit ruled out. O'Connor's next chance to play will be in Week 6 on Thursday night against the Eagles.
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