ALLEN PARK –Through five games this season, Detroit Lions pass rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad is off to the best start of his eight-year NFL career.
Muhammad has recorded 10 tackles — three for loss — 3.5 sacks (which ranks in the league’s top 15), 17 pressures, and eight quarterback hits. According to Pro Football Focus, he holds an 88.2 overall grade, ninth among all edge rushers.
If he stays healthy, ESPN projects Muhammad will finish the season with 34 tackles and an impressive 12 sacks — music to the ears of the Lions organization and its fan base.
While Muhammad showed flashes last season reminiscent of his 2021 campaign with the Indianapolis Colts, he’s on pace to display his best version yet under new defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers.
After six seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — serving under both Bruce Arians and Todd Bowles — Rodgers joined the Lions to replace Terrell Williams, who left to become the New England Patriots’ defensive coordinator.
When speaking to MLive about Rodgers’ impact, Muhammad pointed to the coach’s wealth of experience.
“Huge information. I mean, he’s been around the league a long time, so he knows and has a lot of information that he shares with us to give us the opportunity to go out there and make plays and play faster,” Muhammad said.
Muhammad declined to go into detail about how Rodgers has specifically influenced his development, but he offered one insight.
“Really mentally — just understanding the game better, and that allows you to make plays fast and make plays,” he said. “And also, he just corrects the little things day to day to give us that edge to add on to our game.”
While Rodgers’ guidance has sharpened Muhammad’s approach, success as a defensive lineman — or at any position — still comes down to effort and mentality. Through five games, it’s clear Muhammad has both.
His versatility to line up inside and outside has been a nightmare for opposing offensive fronts, helping turn a once-questioned Lions defensive line into one of the league’s most productive units.
“It’s a lot that goes into it,” Muhammad said. “Some things are technique. Things that help the team are simply doing your job, and other things are you making plays out there. But I think the biggest thing is really just playing with a motor, high energy. It’s one of those positions where you’ve got to play fast.
“You’ve got to have that mentality that wherever the ball’s at, I’m going to get to it — whether it’s the quarterback, running back, whoever’s got the ball. So just having that dog, that grit, that mindset.”
