IFEATU MELIFONWU NEWS

Can't-Miss Play: Ifeatu Melifonwu's INT seals Lions' first division title since 1993 Detroit Lions safety Ifeatu Melifonwu intercepts a pass from Minnesota Vikings quarterback Nick Mullens.

DECEMBER 24, 2023 • NFL.COM

Productive in win Melifonwu registered nine tackles (six solo), including a sack, two pass deflections, and a forced fumble in Detroit's 42-17 win versus Denver on Saturday.

Impact Melifonwu had a dominant outing Sunday, finishing with a new season-high for tackles and also logged the first full sack of his career. The 24-year-old has now compiled 20 tackles (13 solo) in 14 appearances this season.

DECEMBER 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Ifeatu Melifonwu lays the boom on sideline hit vs. Aaron Jones Detroit Lions cornerback Ifeatu Melifonwu lays the boom on a sideline hit vs. Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones.

SEPTEMBER 29, 2023 • NFL.COM

Ifeatu Melifonwu, Detroit Lions, Cornerback Ifeatu Melifonwu is a 6-2.5, 183-pound Safety from Grafton, MA.

JULY 21, 2023 • 247SPORTS.COM

Dan Campbell Shares Added Benefit of Healthy Ifeatu Melifonwu Lions coaching staff have seen growth from DB Ifeatu Melifonwu.

JUNE 11, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Lions notebook: With injuries behind him, Melifonwu making strides Of the players making the most noticeable improvements during these early stages of the offseason program, coach Dan Cambpell mentioned Ifea...

JUNE 9, 2023 • DETROITNEWS.COM

Detroit Lions' DeShon Elliott won't play vs. Bears; Ifeatu Melifonwu to start again The Detroit Lions will be without safety DeShon Elliott for Sunday's game, meaning Ifeatu Melifonwu is slated for his second consecutive sta...

DECEMBER 30, 2022 • FREEP.COM

Full go Wednesday Melifonwu (ankle) was listed as a full participant on the Lions' practice report Wednesday.

Impact Melifonwu has been sidelined for the past four games while dealing with an ankle injury, though he appears to have finally worked past this issue ahead of Sunday's game against the Giants. The second-year cornerback was also ruled out for each of the first three games of the season with a hamstring injury, leaving him available to play just 17 total snaps over two games in 2022.

NOVEMBER 16, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Sidelined again for Week 10 Melifonwu (ankle) is listed as inactive for Sunday's game against the Bears.

Impact Melifonwu will now miss his fourth consecutive contest as a result of an ankle injury. He's logged just four defensive snaps thus far in 2022, so his absence isn't expected to alter Detroit's defensive game plan too much.

NOVEMBER 13, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Remains out Melifonwu (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Packers, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.

Impact Melifonwu will miss a third consecutive game due to an ankle injury. His next chance to suit up will come in Week 10 against the Bears.

NOVEMBER 4, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Will miss another game Melifonwu (ankle) has been ruled out of Sunday's game against the Dolphins, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.

Impact Melifonwu suffered the injury during the team's Week 5 loss to New England and will be out for the second consecutive game. He was unable to practice in any capacity throughout the week and also had the team's Week 6 bye to recover, so the issue appears to be significant.

OCTOBER 29, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Won't face Cowboys Melifonwu (ankle) is out for Sunday's matchup against the Cowboys.

Impact Melifonwu exited Detroit's Week 5 matchup against New England with an ankle injury and failed to practice in any capacity this week. He's managed to suit up for only two games this season, as he was previously bothered by a hamstring injury.

OCTOBER 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Q&A: Ifeatu Melifonwu Dealing With 'Speed Bumps' in 2022 Here is a Q&A with Detroit Lions defensive back Ifeatu Melifonwu.

OCTOBER 21, 2022 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Suffers ankle injury Sunday Melifonwu is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Patriots due to an ankle injury.

Impact Melifonwu recorded one tackle before leaving the contest in the second half. Kerby Joseph is currently the only healthy safety on the active roster, so a cornerback will likely be thrust into a new role until Melifonwu is able to return.

OCTOBER 9, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Inactive against Minnesota Melifonwu (coach's decision) will not play in Sunday's contest against the Vikings.

Impact While Melifonwu was dealing with a hamstring injury this week, it appears he won't take the field for his season debut due to the coach's decision. Tracy Walker and DeShon Elliott, the team's starting safeties, will both be active for Sunday's matchup.

SEPTEMBER 25, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Full participant Wednesday Melifonwu (hamstring) was a full participant during Wednesday's practice.

Impact Melifonwu missed the first two games of the campaign due to a hamstring issue, but it appears he'll be available to make his season debut in Week 3. As a rookie, the 2021 third-round pick recorded 15 tackles across seven appearances, and he figures to garner a similar backup role behind Tracy Walker and DeShon Elliott in 2022.

SEPTEMBER 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting out Week 2 Melifonwu (hamstring) is inactive Sunday against the Commanders.

Impact It's not surprising Melifonwu is out as he has been practicing on and off since the start of the season. Kerby Joseph will likely take over his role again and serve as the backup to starting safety Tracy Walker.

SEPTEMBER 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Detroit Lions' Ifeatu Melifonwu 'in a good place' mentally after injury, position change A third-round pick out of Syracuse last spring, Detroit Lions defensive back Ifeatu Melifonwu switched from cornerback to safety this offsea...

SEPTEMBER 7, 2022 • FREEP.COM

THE DAILY DRIVE: 'I just like playing football': Ifeatu Melifonwu getting used to new role as a safety Austin Bryant, breakout star of Detroit Lions training camp, 'in quest of my best self'

AUGUST 5, 2022 • DETROITLIONS.COM

Lions' Ifeatu Melifonwu on shift to safety from cornerback Lions' Ifeatu Melifonwu talks about the 'biggest challenges' in his shift to safety from cornerback.

AUGUST 4, 2022 • DETROITNEWS.COM

Fine for training camp Melifonwu (undisclosed) recently participated in individual drills without any noticeable restrictions, the Woodward Sports Network reports.

Impact Melifonwu missed some practice time in June due to an undisclosed injury, but it appears he is past that issue in advance of training camp. This bodes well for the 23-year-old, who has spent the offseason transitioning from cornerback to safety, where he will compete with Brady Breeze, Kerby Joseph and C.J. Moore for snaps behind Tracy Walker and DeShon Elliott.

JULY 23, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Dealing with undisclosed injury Melifonwu missed the end of the Lions' offseason workouts due to an undisclosed injury, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Impact While the nature of Melifonwu's situation isn't clear, the Lions don't appear to be concerned that he's dealing with a severe injury. What's more clear is that the 23-year-old will be playing a lot of safety this fall after being drafted as a cornerback in the third round last year, only to practice at safety throughout this offseason. Given the number of promising young cornerbacks on the roster compared to the depth Detroit has at safety, this position change could be his best path to consistent playing time, especially if Jeff Okudah (Achilles) can get healthy.

JUNE 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Getting reps at safety Melifonwu has been working out at both cornerback and safety this offseason, Benjamin Raven of MLive.com reports.

Impact As a third-round rookie in 2021, Melifonwu received the Week 2 start at outside cornerback in place of Jeff Okudah (Achilles), but he then missed the next nine weeks with a quadriceps injury. He returned down the stretch to log significant time at slot cornerback, and in Week 16, he was matched up with Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts. Now he's getting time at safety, likely making the 23-year-old one of the most versatile pieces in Detroit's secondary. With that said, the path to getting a large role opposite Tracy Walker involves beating out DeShon Elliott and third-round draft pick Kerby Joseph.

JUNE 2, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Ifeatu Melifonwu Reacts to Playing Safety Detroit’s second-year defensive back has the ability to play both safety and cornerback in Aaron Glenn’s defense.

JUNE 1, 2022 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

2021 Rookie Review: Ifeatu Melifonwu photos View photos of Lions cornerback Ifeatu Melifonwu during his first year with the team

FEBRUARY 12, 2022 • DETROITLIONS.COM