Iowa’s football program was shaken on Sunday when former Hawkeye linebacker Jack Campbell was injured while assisting on a tackle against Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson. Campbell was taken off the field on a stretcher, and the medical team responded quickly.
The Detroit Lions have been providing the updates since then, saying Campbell is resting and recovering in a hospital, with early signs pointing in a positive direction. Iowa and the wider football world are still waiting on more information, but the immediate news has brought a sense of relief.
At Iowa, the concern runs deep. Campbell’s impact in the program was enormous, and his name sits among the best to ever wear the black and gold.
Kirk Ferentz addressed the situation right away at his weekly press conference, opening with a message about Campbell’s place in the program and his thoughts for him and his family.
"All of you know just how impactful Jack was in our program. What a tremendous person he is. What a tremendous player he has been for us, and now he's moved on and done the same exact thing in Detroit, not only playing well, but also being a tremendous leader.
"We're all keeping him in our thoughts, certainly, and hope every Hawkeye fan does the same," Ferentz said.
The concern also reaches inside the Iowa locker room, where Drew Campbell, Jack’s younger brother, is currently part of the Hawkeyes. The third-year defensive end from Cedar Falls, Iowa, has had support around him during what has been an emotional stretch.
Kenneth Merrieweather said the focus has been on making sure Drew has people around him.
"It's making sure that he's comfortable. That situation is very hard on some people especially when it's their sibling.
Being able to lift up his spirits and give him some courage and just being there for him. Letting him know that if he needs anything-- don't hesitate to reach out.
"It takes a lot of weight off some guys' shoulders when they got their older brothers with him every single day- to be able to pick him up when things are going bad. Being able to be there for him, lift up his spirits, and continue to play the game that he loves," Kenneth Merrieweather said.
Jack Campbell’s Iowa résumé already stands with the program’s elite. He was a unanimous All-American, the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, and the Big Ten Linebacker of the Year in 2022. He also earned First-Team All-Big Ten honors twice.
The Detroit Lions made him a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, and he has already added First-Team All-Pro recognition to his career.
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For Brad Holmes, the question is whether this is the kind of moment that nudges him toward a move he usually prefers not to make. The Lions have generally been cautious about big deadline swings, but the latest reporting points to linebacker help as a real possibility, with cornerback reinforcements also on the table as Detroit weighs how to steady the defense without its injured starter. [Read more 🡒]
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The biggest concern sits in the middle and back end of the defense, where linebacker and safety depth can disappear quickly if availability keeps trending the wrong way. Kerby Joseph is already out for this week, and Jack Campbell is also unlikely to play, which raises the stakes for the next wave of defenders who may have to absorb more snaps and more responsibility in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]