ALLEN PARK >> One of the hardest parts for Alim McNeill is the fact he couldn’t do anything to help.

The Detroit Lions defensive lineman had to watch his team’s final four games from home after tearing his ACL against the Buffalo Bills in December. The Lions went 3-1 without him, but that loss — against the Washington Commanders in the divisional round Saturday — ended their season.

“Whether it’s the playoffs or regular season games I was watching, it’s always tough,” McNeill said Sunday at the practice facility, as he sported a brace on his right knee and used crutches to move around. “You want to be out there with your guys, competing. I watch at home just like everybody else do.”

McNeill doesn’t have an exact timeline for his recovery, but he’s taking things “day by day” and will continue attacking his rehab: “I’m not going to rush anything, but I’m just going to push myself, for sure.”

“This is the first time I’ve ever had a season-ending injury, and my first time having surgery,” McNeill said. “So, it was definitely tough. But you kind of have to put your (mindset) in a different type of spot. Now that we’re done, I’ve just gotta figure out how to get back on the field as fast as I can.”

McNeill, drafted 72nd overall in 2021, and the Lions agreed to a four-year contract extension in October. The deal was worth $97 million, with $55 million of that guaranteed. He had 45 pressures, 25 total tackles, seven quarterback hits and 3½ sacks before he hurt his knee.

“I would 100% say that, but that’s not what happened, the reality of it,” McNeill said, when asked if the Lions could’ve reached their goals had they not been hampered by injuries. “We lost and we can’t make any excuses for it, no matter who’s out there. We can sit here and we can do that all day long, but it’s not what happened.”

Dorsey walking, Robertson ‘doing well’

Also injured against the Bills was cornerback and key special teamer Khalil Dorsey, who broke his leg in a similar manner to defensive end Aidan Hutchinson. Dorsey was told he had a 4-6 months of recovery in front of him, and he was walking around the locker room with no crutches Sunday.

A free agent this offseason, he hopes to have put enough on tape to either return to Detroit or land somewhere else.

“I’ve been in the league off of less film,” Dorsey said. “Now that I’ve got more film, I feel like I’ll be able to stay in the league at least another year or something like that. Pretty much for me, that’s always the goal: Have a plan for the next year.”

Another cornerback dealing with a broken bone — his humerus was broken on Washington’s first drive Saturday — is Amik Robertson. Lions head coach Dan Campbell said Robertson reached out to him Monday morning. Campbell hadn’t been able to respond yet, but he assured Robertson was “doing well.”

Rookie defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo (torn meniscus) and cornerback Emmanuel Moseley (illness) spoke Sunday, too. Moseley declined to go into specifics about his issue, but he said he intends to continue his career, one that’s been derailed in recent seasons due to two torn ACLs and a torn pectoral muscle.

Wingo, meanwhile, said he’s right on track and anticipates being ready for OTAs. The former LSU standout logged 177 defensive snaps spread across 11 games this season.

“Mentally, I was all right. I’ve dealt with injuries before, but I really wanted to be out there with the team,” Wingo said.

“So, it sucked getting the news of it just when I felt like I was really hitting my stride during the season. But (I’ve) just got to attack the rehab process and get better for next year.”