Dan Campbell: There's Still 'Urgency' to Win Football Games
The Detroit Lions are hoping to get two key playmakers back from injury for a Week 8 matchup with the Miami Dolphins.
Running back D’Andre Swift has been out since Week 3 with injuries to his shoulder and ankle, while Amon-Ra St. Brown left last week’s game with a head injury that caused him to enter concussion protocol.
On Friday, while not providing definitive answers to whether the duo will play, Campbell said both are trending towards playing.
Swift has been a full participant in practice in each of the last two days, while St. Brown has been limited while working through the NFL’s concussion protocol.
Should both play, they would aid a Lions offense that has been starving for production as of late. After leading the league in scoring through the first four weeks, Detroit has been held to just six total points over its last two games.
When asked if having both Swift and St. Brown in action, even in practice, helps quarterback Jared Goff and the rest of the team, Campbell answered definitively.
“Yes it does, because naturally they’re the type of players we’re talking about but also, to be able to, there is a comfort level,” Campbell said. “Those guys have banked a lot of time together throughout camp, the early part of the season, so to have them out there, there’s a better flow to everything. It’s certainly the type of players, but also there is a comfort to it. Goff knows where they’re gonna be, what kind of players they are. And certainly the O-line, we all know what Swift can bring. You just latch onto your guy and give him a crease and he can do the rest.”
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Urgency to win
With displeasure regarding the Lions’ 1-5 start reaching a fever pitch, team owner Sheila Hamp spoke to local reporters for the first time during the season on Wednesday. In her message, she reinforced her support for Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes.
Campbell remarked that he and the owner had been having conversations regarding the state of the team through the bye week. Yet, while he appreciates the support, he admitted that the NFL is ultimately a bottom-line business.
“I’m not blind to any of this,” Campbell said. “I appreciate that and I know, but I also know the reality, we’ve got to win. There’s still urgency here, that’s never changed. This is, we know what kind of business we’re in, I know what kind of business I’m in, and I know that the patience only goes so long. So, look, we’re trying to get one this week and after that takes place you go get the next one. It’s all about winning, we’re not trying to kick the can down the road, we’re not trying to say any of that. We’ve got a team here that I know can win and it’s my job to get them there.”
Elliott’s status in question
Safety DeShon Elliott has been among the more productive members of a struggling Lions defense. Yet, he suffered a finger injury and could be in danger of spending Sunday on the sidelines.
He didn’t practice either Wednesday or Thursday, and Campbell has begun to craft a contingency plan in case his veteran defensive back cannot play against the Dolphins.
Among the options is JuJu Hughes, who has seen plenty of snaps in relief of both Elliott and injured teammate Tracy Walker III over the first six games.
“(Elliott) has not practiced the last two days,” Campbell noted. “We were gonna see how he felt today. JuJu’s gonna be in that spot, and we’ve got Jerry working a little bit too, so we’ve got some options there that we’re trying to work through right now. But JuJu’s had a good week of practice, so if DeShon can’t go, it’ll probably be him.”
Elliott is currently the team’s leading tackler with 49 and is one of only two players with an interception.
Notes
1.) The Lions entered the regular season hoping to have a fully operational offensive line after the starters didn’t play one snap together in 2021. However, those dreams were dashed when Halapoulivaati Vaitai suffered a back injury and had surgery.
Currently on injured reserve, Vaitai’s chances of returning are not optimistic according to his head coach.
“He’s doing well,” Campbell said. “I would say (him returning) would be very slim to none as of right now. But the surgery went well and he’s doing great, but that’s one of those long term, it’ll be, probably. If you’re asking me right now, I’d say it would be hard to get him back.”
2.) Campbell said fellow injured offensive lineman Tommy Kraemer is having his progress monitored as he works back from a back injury and could return at some point in 2022.
