CBS Sports: Dan Campbell responds sharply to a query on the spate of defensive injuries.
Dan Campbell had the anticipated reaction when asked about the Lions’ recent string of unfortunate injuries in the defensive front seven.
Another week, and more injuries for the Detroit Lions defense. Due to injuries, linebacker Malcom Rodriguez (knee), defensive lineman Josh Paschal (knee), and Levi Onwuzurike (hamstring) were unable to play in Thursday’s Thanksgiving losing streak-breaking victory over the Chicago Bears.
Head coach Dan Campbell was obviously more worried about Rodriguez’s injury after the game, even if he acknowledged that Paschal and Onwuzurike may lose time.
“I don’t know how significant it’ll be just yet, but he’s the one I fear a little bit,” Campbell stated.
This season, the Lions have a growing list of injured defensive players. Kyle Peko, John Cominsky, Alex Anzalone, Derrick Barnes, Marcus Davenport, and Aidan Hutchinson. Detroit ranked second in the league in scoring defense going into this week, so defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn has handled everything while others have missed a game or two here and there.
Dan Campbell doesn’t have time to make excuses about his injuries.
Following Thursday’s victory, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press questioned Campbell whether he was stung by the Lions’ front-seven’s numerous injuries. It was a sharp response, but that was to be anticipated.
“Let me ask you: is it really that important? As in, who gives a damn? It makes no difference; that’s what I keep returning to. We either get a guy back or we don’t; it’s either that way. And it’s like calls when you worry about it, complain about it, and b*tch about it, isn’t it? It’s similar to calls. Vildor, it doesn’t matter whether I sit there and get upset over the pass interference call on the CB Kindle. It’s done, it’s called. I am aware that, no matter who we have on hand, we will prepare them for play and expect them to hold the line. You must perform your duties, and everyone is counting on you to do so.
In order to keep that mindset when injuries unavoidably occur, NFL players and coaches adopt the “next man up” approach. Perhaps no club promotes this philosophy more than the Lions under Campbell. That he didn’t have time for the notion that his team is “snake bit,” or whatever term may be used to describe a difficult run of injuries on the defensive end of the ball, is thus not surprising.
