The Detroit Lions are knee-deep in trade talks for Joey Porter Jr., and that’s just the start of the news dump coming out of Allen Park. Head coach Dan Campbell, hitting his final pre-Week 4 presser, dropped that little tidbit right off the bat on Friday morning. On top of that, good news for the secondary: safety Brian Branch is super close to getting back to practice. These aren’t minor updates, folks; these are the kind of moves that can swing momentum even this early in the season.
“Jack’s Not Gone”: Campbell Backs His Bell Cow
Look, anyone watching knows Lions All-Pro linebacker Jack Campbell hasn’t had the start he wanted. Three games in, and it’s clear his coverage hasn’t been sharp, and he hasn’t been that dominant force in the run game we all expect. Something just feels off. But if you think Dan Campbell is wavering on his guy, you got another thing coming. The coach expressed zero lost faith, and he was pretty blunt about it.
“Jack’s not gone,” Campbell said. “I mean, I get it and he holds himself to high standards just like we all do. We want to be better in all areas, but Jack’s just fine. He’ll be just fine. And look, Jack’s the guy who just got paid and he’s going to be worried about getting cut every freaking week. I mean, that’s Jack, that’s his mentality. And more importantly, letting his teammates down, that means something to him. So he works every day and he works his craft every day. He doesn’t go in the tank or lose confidence. He just continues to go. So, he’s our bell cow and he’ll be fine. He’s going to be just fine.” That’s the kind of unwavering support you love to see from a coach.
Don’t Be Fooled by Young’s Low Rush Count
All week, the chatter from Campbell has been about shutting down Panthers quarterback Bryce Young. The defensive game plan? Keep that dude in the pocket. Do NOT let him beat you with his legs and break off explosive plays. Simple enough, right? Except here’s the kicker: Young has only rushed three times all season. THREE! His game has been all about moving in the pocket to find receivers downfield, not taking off.
Campbell actually admitted he was surprised by that low number when asked, but don’t think for a second it’s changing the game plan. “I am because that’s been something that he’s done quite a bit of and really hurts defenses,” Campbell explained. “So I am, but no matter what it is, his eyes are always downfield. And then it’s, ‘Okay, well it’s not there. I’m out in the open. I’ll take off.’ So, he’s still dangerous. It still shows up. I mean, he had one in Chicago Week 1 that was , there it is, man. You just gave him the lane. Everybody’s covered up and then he takes it all the way. So I am, but that whole thing doesn’t mean anything because I’m like, we better be ready. I mean, he could take off 10 times this game for all I know if we give it to him.” The message is clear: even if Young hasn’t been running much, the Lions aren’t taking any chances against a guy who can still rip off a huge gain if you let him.
So, the Lions are gearing up for Week 4 against the Carolina Panthers. With potential trade moves looming and a focus on containing a surprisingly un-run-heavy Bryce Young, it’s going to be wild to see how these early season trends play out on Sunday. Get ready for some football, because this one could be a battle!
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.
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