Jahmyr Gibbs is officially on Day 2 of his contract hold-in with the Detroit Lions, pushing hard for that new deal, and you’d think head coach Dan Campbell would be tearing his hair out right about now, right? Nah, not Campbell. The guy is totally playing it cool, downplaying any drama between him and his star running back. He’s telling everyone he’s “not even sweating it,” but man, that’s a tough line to walk when one of your key guys isn’t on the field.
Dan Campbell Is “Not Sweating It” , Or Is He?
Campbell sounds like he’s trying to keep the vibes chill, even with Gibbs making a clear statement. “You guys know how I feel about,how we feel about,Gibbs and what the team feels about him,” Campbell said, trying to put a lid on the swirling questions. He made it clear his job right now is to “coach who’s out there.” Look, he loves the kid, but he’s got a whole team to prepare. Campbell’s banking on the idea that “at some point, it’ll all get done. It’s going to get done.” Gibbs is technically locked in for 2026 and his 2027 fifth-year option has already been exercised. However, this is exactly the time players drafted under Campbell’s regime start talking extensions. Just look at Bijan Robinson, Gibbs’ draftmate from the Falcons, who’s pulling the same move over in Atlanta.
The “Bell-Cow” Backlash: Coach’s Own Words Haunt Him
Here’s where it gets interesting, and maybe a little awkward for Campbell. He admitted he thought this deal would already be done by now. He even joked that calling Gibbs a “bell-cow” back in the spring might have actually messed up the negotiations. “I shouldn’t have said bell cow, I guess, right? ‘Hey, well, coach said bell cow,’” Campbell quipped, saying he didn’t “think twice about it” at the time. He’s been in the league long enough, as both a player and a coach, to know “how this goes,” which means he understands the business side of things. But still, the timing of that “bell-cow” comment and now Gibbs’ hold-in? Oof, that’s rough.
Opportunity Knocks For Lions’ Backfield Depth
So, what happens without Gibbs in the lineup? Campbell doesn’t have a timeline for his return, and he’s not even sure if Gibbs will keep holding out if they don’t reach an agreement. But ever the optimist, Campbell is spinning this as a “silver lining” for the rest of the running back room. It’s a “great opportunity” for free agent signing Isiah Pacheco to get “much-needed reps” and learn the offensive system. Sione Vaki, who transitioned from safety, is also getting crucial snaps. Plus, depth guys like Jacob Saylors, Jabari Small, and Kye Robichaux are getting bumped up and soaking up more practice time. As Campbell put it, “This is extra reps for ‘Pop’ with us just within our system. So that’s awesome.” It shows that even in a sticky situation, the Lions are trying to make the most of what they’ve got heading into the season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pride of Detroit.
Leave a Reply