Levi Onwuzurike had one of the most memorable NFL draft night news conferences in recent Detroit Lions history, and to this point, has had one of the more disappointing careers.

A second-round pick out of Washington in 2021, Onwuzurike introduced himself to the city three years ago by announcing he liked "(bleeping) people up." Three years later, he has two career sacks and has yet to make any meaningful contributions on a defensive line that's been just ordinary for most of his time in Detroit.

But if Onwuzurike's performance this spring is any indication, that might be about to change.

Lions coach Dan Campbell called Onwuzurike one of the most pleasant surprises of spring on Wednesday and Onwuzurike followed that up with an impressive practice on Day 2 of mandatory minicamp.

He forced Jared Goff to throw a screen pass into the ground with a pressure on the third snap of team period, had at least one would-be sack later in the day and was active in the backfield as both a run and pass defender.

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"I just want to be careful because we’re not in pads, I just want to reiterate that," Campbell said before practice. "But Levi is having a really good spring. (Josh) Paschal is, too, but Levi — because where he’s come from and all he’s had to deal with, I mean, this guy just has continued to rehab, he’s continued to train his body and work. He’s put on weight because his back can handle it now. We got him through last year to where he’s able to bank some reps and he’s having a really good spring."

Onwuzurike had 35 tackles in 16 games as a rookie, then missed the entire 2022 season with a back injury that required surgery.

He returned at a lighter weight last year and played sparingly as a backup, making five tackles in 10 games, but said Wednesday he's added 15 to 20 pounds this offseason and is starting to feel like his old self again.

"How have I done it?" Onwuzurike said. "I was eating a lot. Eating a lot, working out a lot, and it feels good. I mean, as long as my back is nice and healthy, so my body can take the weight. It feels good out here."

With improved health, Onwuzurike is in line for a more meaningful — and perhaps more versatile — role on the Lions' defensive line this fall.

He said he's up to around 300 pounds, and on Wednesday he took first-team reps at defensive tackle in the Lions' base defense and played some as a big end opposite Aidan Hutchinson.

The Lions return Alim McNeill at one starting defensive tackle spot and signed D.J. Reader to play nose tackle in free agency, but Reader has not practiced this spring while he rehabs from the quad injury he suffered last season with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Rookie sixth-round pick Mekhi Wingo also will compete for backup snaps at defensive tackle this fall, and Paschal, entering his third season, and John Cominsky can play both inside and on the edge.

"The more you can play, the more spots you can play, the more you’ll get out there," Onwuzurike said. "And I played (defensive end) in high school, so it’s kind of like, I kind of got it in my system."

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One thing Onwuzurike hopes is out of his system are the injuries that nearly derailed his career.

Onwuzurike dealt with back problems in college that carried over to the NFL, and he said he still was limited in some ways last season.

Through surgery and rehab, he's been able to get his back to the point where "everything’s moving together as one." Before, Onwuzurike said, it felt like he was playing separately with his upper body and lower body.

In a contract year, the timing couldn't be better for Onwuzurike, though he insisted Wednesday that's not on his mind.

"I don’t really think about that." he said. "Like I said, I just take it day by day. I mean, I want to come out here today and ball out, and whenever I practice next I want to do the same."

Onwuzurike said he has no doubt the impact he can make now that he's healthy, and asked to define his career to this point, he instead chose to look ahead.

"Redemption," he said. "I got to show people what I can do, I got to show myself what I can do."

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on X and Instagram at @davebirkett.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions' Levi Onwuzurike: Finally healthy, out for 'redemption'