‘Down for a while’: Former Boise State star injured in NFL preseason game
Former Boise State football standout and new Detroit defensive end Ahmed Hassanein could be set for an extended stay on the sidelines before even playing a snap in an NFL regular season game.
Hassanein, selected in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft in April, exited in the third quarter of the Lions’ preseason game against the Miami Dolphins last weekend. The injury occurred when Hassanein was attempting to swim around a block. He took a hit from a different player and went to the ground.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell said Monday that Hassanein suffered a pectoral injury and could be “down for a while,” according to the Detroit Free Press and other Detroit-based media outlets.
When asked whether Hassanein could be out for the season, Campbell said it was a good question — one he couldn’t answer yet.
Although a minor pectoral strain can take only a month to heal, a partial tear can take up to three months, while a complete tear can take from 6 months to a year to recover, according to the New York Sports Medicine Institute.
Hassanein, initially expected to be a development piece in Detroit, has impressed in his first few months in Motown. He racked up three solo tackles across two preseason games and worked his way into contention to be a depth piece at the edge for the Lions.
“He is a sponge, he wants to know, he really does, and he tries to take what he’s being told, he tries to think about it, and take it to the field and grow,” Campbell said at the start of the Lions’ camp. “And he really is improving.”
Hassanein played all four years of his college career at Boise State. He broke through in 2023, leading the team in sacks, and became a team captain in 2024. He continued to lead by example in his final season, ending the year with 48 tackles, 9.5 sacks and a fumble recovery.
He ended his Boise State career with 119 tackles and 24 sacks across 48 games. He played in every game possible his last two seasons.
