Is Alex Anzalone's absence from Lions voluntary workouts contract-related?

The Detroit Lions' voluntary workouts are underway and there is one player who is noticeably absent: linebacker Alex Anzalone.

Anzalone is not taking part in the voluntary workouts thus far, and the thought has been that it could be contract-related. On the flip side, it's also important to remember that players are, of course, not required to attend.

Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard said he isn't concerned about Anzalone's absence, though.

“Me and Alex are all good,” Sheppard said of Anzalone this week, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “I have zero concern.

"That player is a leader here and he’s been a leader here, he’s been an intricate piece in building the culture that’s here and I’m going to pay the respect that he’s earned and that he’s due, and whatever his private situations are, I’ll let Alex address those when he’s face-to-face with you all,” Sheppard added

Is Alex Anzalone holding out?

Anzalone's absence from voluntary workouts are not unusual, as he has chosen to stay at home instead in the past, where he's certainly hard at work preparing for 2025.

However, this year is a bit different. Anzalone has suggested on social media that he wants a new deal, and has done so on multiple occasions.

Anzalone is entering the final year of his three-year, $18.3 million contract, a deal he has outplayed considerably. Anzalone has become one of the better linebackers in the NFL and is a crucial piece to the Lions' defense, something we saw very clearly during his absence due to a fractured forearm last season.

As Anzalone's deal enters its final year, he just saw the Lions hand out a three-year, $24 million deal to Derrick Barnes, who is far less proven and is coming off a year in which he played in just three games due to a knee injury.

Anzalone no doubt deserves a pay raise, but his situation is a bit different. He's set to turn 31 years old this year and there will be concerns about a decline in the upcoming years, which could lead the Lions to balk at a new contract.

However, the Lions have shown a propensity to take care of their best players, and we believe they'll ultimately get something done with the veteran linebacker.

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