Former BYU football defensive lineman Ziggy Ansah wasn’t at his best in 2017. But the Ghana native still had a solid season for the Detroit Lions.
When BYU football’s Ziggy Ansah was drafted No. 5 overall by the Detroit Lions in 2013, there were high expectations attached.
Ansah was raw, but incredibly athletic and showed a knack for rushing the passer.
Just four seasons later and a lot has changed – depending on who you ask. Ziggy amassed 30 sacks in his first three NFL seasons, establishing himself as the premier up-and-coming pass rusher in the game.
It appeared he’d be a staple of the Detroit defense for years to come.
But after an injury-plagued 2016 season that saw Ziggy collect just two sacks, some in the Detroit fanbase and press circles began to question the former Cougar. This season, Ansah posted 12 sacks. A respectable number for sure, but they came in clumps.
Ansah had three sacks in three different games – then had just three in the remaining 13 games.
Ziggy recently told MLive.com that he’s been dealing with injuries all season long. But after an offseason (and training camp) spent trying to get healthy, he’s not ruling out another trip under the knife.
If that happens, it’s hard to imagine the Lions resign Ansah, who is an unrestricted free agent in 2018. At the very least, it doesn’t look like they’ll be offering the kind of money he could get on the open market.
But coming into the season finale against Green Bay (a game in which Ziggy sacked Brett Hundley three times), Pro Football Focus had Ziggy ranked as the No. 43 edge defender in the league. That’s nothing to write home about, but if he was playing hurt, that’s pretty impressive.
Regardless of where Ansah ends up, hopefully he can get healthy. Because when he’s healthy, he’s proven himself as one of the best pass rushers in the NFL.