How Detroit Lions Plan To Channel Jack Campbell Emotions Into Dolphins Prep
Mental strain on Detroit Lions team cannot be easy this week. Even with great news that LB Jack Campbell has full movement in lower body after traumatic neck injury Sunday vs Vikings (full movement lower body, progressing upper body, very optimistic per Campbell’s lengthy statement Wednesday via Lions X), it’s natural for entire locker room to have attention divided between Campbell’s recovery and Sunday’s upcoming game at Miami Dolphins.
Lions coach Dan Campbell isn’t running away from difficult reality.
“There’s no easy way to do this, but you also have to acknowledge it, and let’s talk about it and make sure we know,” Dan Campbell said Wednesday. “But I also know they’re not postponing this game. And I know the only way to honor Jack, we know the only way to really honor Jack and what he really wants is to make sure that we’re locked in and ready to go because otherwise what just kind of came about, then we’re throwing it away in a sense.”
Campbell said he would address players about Campbell when they arrive for practice Wednesday, while adding that players should keep Campbell in their thoughts while focusing on upcoming game vs Dolphins. Lions will travel to Miami for Sunday matchup vs Dolphins, kickoff 1 p.m. ET Sunday Nov 8 on Fox, Ford Field South.
Like any other week, Lions have mental health professionals in-house to help any players who may need support or just person to talk to. Dan Campbell indicated there are players who have already utilized those resources this week. Lions (5-2) vs Dolphins (1-6).
Lions coach Scottie Montgomery taking similar approach, noting impossible to ignore “fallen leader.”
“The key word is balance. The human in all of us — we play football, we coach football, but our first element is human element,” Montgomery said. “It’s very difficult, of course, emotionally to be in a game like that, having situation like that happen. And what we do have to talk about, we can’t ignore; we have had open dialogue. We do this with our players. Because we do have concern for our fallen leader. That’s exactly who he was.”
But Lions are hopeful they can turn that concern for Campbell into on-field honoring of everything he represents. Campbell is one of hardest-working players on team, and they know one of best ways to honor him is to attack week as he would.
“I think we owe it to him; we owe it to all of ourselves to make sure we’re locked in, and we make the most of this,” Dan Campbell said. “And so, it’s balancing; you’re human and you know it, you want to acknowledge it. It’s a lot, but if that’s weighing that heavy and that’s where your mind’s at, it’s not going to be good going in this game, and that’s where you can get hurt as well.”
Montgomery added: “We’re honoring him by the way that we prepare. We’re preparing like he prepares. That’s what we’re talking with each other about. As players, as coaches, we’re going to prepare like he prepares. We’re going to play like he plays. We’re going to do the things that he would have us do. There’s no way around anybody in that locker room not feeling a certain way about him. But that same feeling that causes pain, it causes us to pursue the excellence of what Jack would want us to do in this situation, and that’s go prepare and get ready to go down and play a good football team and play to a high level this weekend.”
Dan Campbell noted he’s kept captains up to date and they’ve let other guys know, helped everybody get better handle on all this. Team’s hearts and minds with captain and family as they prepare for game at Miami.
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