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2024 Defensive
| STATS |
CMB
Total Tackles
|
INT
Interceptions
|
TD
Interceptions Returned For Touchdown
|
FUM
Forced Fumbles
|
SCK
Sacks
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Season | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 |
Top Ifeatu Melifonwu News
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Lions' Ifeatu Melifonwu: Making regular-season debut Sunday
Melifonwu (hand) is active for Sunday's game against the Bears.
Melifonwu was sidelined for the Lions' first 14 regular-season games due to ankle and hand injuries, but the 25-year-old safety will make his 2024 debut Sunday and provide depth at safety behind starters Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph. Across 17 regular-season games in 2023, Melifonwu logged 33 tackles (24 solo), including 3.0 sacks, eight pass defenses (including two interceptions) and one forced fumble.
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Lions' Ifeatu Melifonwu: Back from IR, still questionable
Melifonwu (hand) was activated from injured reserve Saturday.
Melifonwu is back on Detroit's active roster ahead of Sunday's game against the Bears, but he's still listed as questionable on the injury report. If cleared for action, Melifonwu will provide valuable safety depth for the banged-up Lions defense.
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Lions' Ifeatu Melifonwu: Could return in Week 16
Melifonwu (hand) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Bears, Justin Rogers of DetroitFootball.net reports.
Melifonwu was designated to return from injured reserve Wednesday and practiced in full all week, suggesting he could play for the first time this season in Sunday's divisional matchup. However, the Syracuse product must still be added to the active roster in order to suit up in Week 16. If Melifonwu is activated in time, he's expected to serve as Detroit's top reserve safety.
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Lions' Ifeatu Melifonwu: Logs full practice Wednesday
Melifonwu (hand) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice.
On the same day he was designated to return from injured reserve, Melifonwu started out strong with a full practice in the Lions' first official practice of the week Wednesday. He's been sidelined for the entire regular season due to ankle and hand injuries, but if he's able to practice in full over the next two days, he would be on track to make his 2024 regular-season debut against the Bears on Sunday.
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Lions' Ifeatu Melifonwu: Designated to return
Melifonwu (undisclosed) was designated to return from injured reserve Wednesday, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.
The Syracuse product has yet to play this season due to an ankle injury and an undisclosed issue. However, his 21-day practice window opened Wednesday, suggesting he's nearing a return to the field. If Melifonwu is activated to Detroit's active roster in time for the Week 16 matchup against the Bears, he could serve as the team's top reserve safety. If not, Brandon Joseph is likely to occupy that role.
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Lions' Ifeatu Melifonwu: Back to injured reserve
The Lions placed Melifonwu (undisclosed) on injured reserve Tuesday.
Melifonwu was activated from injured reserve Monday but heads back to the list 24 hours later after suffering a setback unrelated to the ankle injury that previously landed him there, Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com reports. Melifonwu will have to miss at least another four games minimum and won't be eligible to play until Week 16 versus Chicago.
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Lions' Ifeatu Melifonwu: Activated Monday
The Lions activated Melifonwu (ankle) from injured reserve Monday.
Despite head coach Dan Campbell noting earlier Monday that Melifonwu suffered a setback and "won't be ready for a while," the Lions have added him to their active roster. Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com reports that Melifonwu didn't practice Friday after sustaining a different injury than the one that landed him on IR. His participation in practice throughout this week will likely offer the best indication of whether he can return to the field Sunday against the Colts.
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Lions' Ifeatu Melifonwu: Not close to returning
Head coach Dan Campbell stated Monday that Melifonwu (ankle) suffered a setback, and "he won't be ready for a while," Nolan Bianchi of The Detroit News reports.
Melifonwu had his 21-day window to practice with the team opened on Nov. 6. According to Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com, the Syracuse product suffered a different injury from his original ankle issue. If he is not near ready to play when his window closes Nov. 27, the Lions will either need to use an active roster spot on him anyhow or return him to IR, officially ending his season.
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Lions' Ifeatu Melifonwu: Ruled out for Week 11
Melifonwu (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Jaguars.
Melifonwu remains on injured reserve after his 21-day practice window was opened last Wednesday. He'll get another week of practice ahead of Week 12 against the Colts.
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Lions' Ifeatu Melifonwu: Won't return for Week 10
Melifonwu (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against Houston.
Melifonwu has been on injured reserve since late September due to an ankle injury he suffered in Week 1, but his 21-day practice window to return from IR opened Wednesday, per Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site. He was a full practice participant all week, and while he won't suit up Sunday, he has good chance at playing in Week 11 against Jacksonville on Sunday, Nov. 17.
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Lions' Ifeatu Melifonwu: Shifts to IR
Melifonwu (ankle) was placed on injured reserve Saturday, Justin Rogers of DetroitFootball.net reports.
Melifonwu has yet to appear in a game this season after sustaining an ankle injury during a Lions practice in early September. The Syracuse product will now be forced to miss Detroit's next four contests after moving to IR. Expect Brandon Joseph to serve as Detroit's top reserve safety while Menifonwu continues recovering from his ankle issue.
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Lions' Ifeatu Melifonwu: Out again Week 3
Melifonwu (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against Arizona.
Melifonwu continues to nurse an ankle injury that has prevented him from taking the field so far this season. The safety didn't practice in any capacity this week, so it's unclear how close he may be to making a return. Melifonwu's next chance to make his season debut will come on Monday Night Football against Seattle on Sept. 30.
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Lions' Ifeatu Melifonwu: Won't play Week 2
Melifonwu (ankle) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup with the Buccaneers.
Melifonwu being ruled out for Sunday's affair comes as no surprise, as the 25-year-old was held out of practice all week due to an ankle injury. Expect Brandon Joseph and Loren Strickland to serve as the Lions' reserve safeties while Melifonwu remains sidelined.
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Lions' Ifeatu Melifonwu: Opens week as DNP
Melifonwu (ankle) did not participate in Wednesday's practice session.
Despite logging three consecutive limited practices last week, Melifonwu was unable to suit up for Week 1 against the Rams. The fact that the 2021 third-round pick wasn't able to practice in any capacity Wednesday doesn't bode well for his chances of playing against the Buccaneers on Sunday. Melifonwu will have two more chances Thursday and Friday to see the field and prepare for Week 2.
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Lions' Ifeatu Melifonwu: Ruled out Sunday
Melifonwu (ankle) will be inactive for Sunday's matchup with the Rams.
Melifonwu has been nursing an ankle injury at practice this week and he'll be forced to miss the team's opener versus Los Angeles. The safety was able to participate in a limited capacity at practice during the week, so he'll likely be able to return to the field sooner rather than later.
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Player Bio
| HT/WT: 6-3, 210 lbs |
| Birthplace: Boston, MA |
| Age: 25 |
| School: Syracuse |
| Experience: 4 |