Josh Paschal had non-cancerous mass removed -- but plans to play Sunday

Wondering why you didn’t see Josh Paschal rushing the quarterback for the Detroit Lions on NFL RedZone the past couple of Sundays? He was coming off his best performance of the year, racking up four solo tackles and a sack in a win at Minnesota on Oct. 20, before missing the team’s next two wins over Tennessee and Green Bay.

The 24-year-old out of Prince George’s County, Maryland who has already gone through far too much in his young football career announced Wednesday he had to have a mass removed from his shoulder a couple of weeks back. The good news? It wasn’t cancerous, though it did force him into an unexpected rehab period recovering from surgery.

Paschal had the procedure done at Henry Ford Hospital and worked closely with Detroit’s team doctors to carve out a path back to game action, one that included building strength back in his shoulder. As of today, though, the former Wildcat has been cleared to return this Sunday when the Lions take on the Houston Texans in a must-see Sunday Night Football matchup on NBC.

“It was definitely frustrating,” Paschal said of his two-game absence. “But I’m glad to be back now and ready to get after it this week in practice and set myself up for a big game on Sunday night.”

As you likely remember, Paschal was diagnosed with acral lentiginous melanoma, a rare and aggressive form of skin cancer, during his time at Kentucky back in 2018. He would play the final three games of his sophomore campaign in Lexington — a miraculous recovery — before continuing his superstar career that included 139 total tackles, 37 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks and three forced fumbles.

The All-SEC pass-rusher was drafted No. 46 overall by the Lions in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft and has gone on to record 42 tackles and four sacks in 28 career games as a pro.

Sidelined once again by health issues beyond his control, Paschal is understandably giddy to get back out there this week and move past yet another medical scare.

“I can’t even put it into words,” the former Wildcat said. “I’m just ready to get back after it. It’s a big game to come back to, Sunday Night Football, I’m just ready to get back and help my team.”

Josh Paschal continues to overcome adversity because he’s a bad, bad man.

Welcome back, No. 93. You’ve been missed.