The Lions are heading into Week 9 with more questions than answers after an injury-heavy win over the Vikings, and Dan Campbell didn’t sugarcoat any of it on Wednesday.
The biggest update came on rookie linebacker Jimmy Rolder, who went down on the same play as Jack Campbell in Week 8. Dan Campbell said Rolder is out for the season with a hamstring injury that could require surgery. That’s a tough blow for a defense already scrambling to piece things together.
Jack Campbell’s situation remains the most sensitive of all. The team shared that he “continues to rest and recover at a local hospital,” and that “Preliminary indications are positive and out of respect for Jack and his family we will not share further information at this time.”
Dan Campbell spoke about what Jack Campbell means to the team, saying:
"You get voted captain, that says a ton...he earned every bit of that. He's a guy who's trustworthy, he's dependable.
He'd give you the shirt off his back. He's all heart, all effort.
Just an unbelievable person. Down to Earth, genuine.
There's not a man on this team that doesn't respect Jack Campbell, and doesn't care about him"
The injury list didn’t stop there. Cade Mays, Brian Branch, DJ Wonnum, and D.J.
Reed will not practice Wednesday, according to Campbell. Branch and Wonnum are both in concussion protocol, and they’ll have to clear that process before they can be active against the Dolphins.
That protocol includes five steps: symptom-limited activity, aerobic exercise, football-specific exercise, club-based non-contact training drills, and full football activity clearance. Campbell said there’s a real chance neither player suits up this week.
Campbell also addressed the physical toll of the game after so many Lions went down in Week 8, saying, "this is a violent game, and it's what we signed up for. It's tough."
Even with the injuries piling up, Campbell said he believes Detroit has enough at linebacker to manage the losses to Rolder and Jack Campbell. Trevor Nowaske has flashed in stretches, and Malcolm Rodriguez, Derrick Barnes, and Amen Ogbongbemiga are still healthy. The trade deadline is another option if the Lions decide they need help, though they may wait to see how the defense handles Miami before making any move.
There may also be opportunity opening up elsewhere on the defense. Rookie edge rusher Derrick Moore could be in line for a bigger role after looking good against Minnesota while filling in for Wonnum. Ahmed Hassanein could also finally be active on game day.
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The Lions spent the day waiting for a fuller picture on Jack Campbell after the linebacker was injured during the game, with the team releasing a statement saying he was resting and recovering at a local hospital and that the preliminary indications were positive. Dan Campbell later reinforced that message, saying the situation was encouraging, while also noting that players and coaches made hospital visits to see one of the emotional centerpieces of the defense.
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Lions Get An Early Week 9 Test Miami Could Complicate
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Miami has been leaning into youth, cutting veterans and bringing in a wave of rookies, which has made the first part of the season uneven. The results have mostly been rough, but the Dolphins have shown some signs of life lately, including a close loss to the New England Patriots, and that kind of progress can make an early November test a little trickier than expected for a Lions team trying to keep its footing. [Read more 🡒]