Lions Dan Campbell: The strength is the team; no decision on play-calling

Dan Campbell appeared more fired up than usual on Monday, the start of the  first week of the regular season. 

After months of work and coming off a devastating 3-13-1 year, the season is here. The Lions open the season against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday at Ford Field.

“We have our players, we have our crew. We have the brotherhood, if you will. The 53 with a 16-man vet squad or practice squad. There’ll be a couple things that always come up through the year but for the most part this is our crew,’’ Campbell said at his Monday press conference.

He likes that they were able to sign veterans – he named Jarrad Davis in particular – to the practice squad. So when injuries happen he’ll have plug-and-play guys available. 

“I feel like we have the right guys, it’s the right 53 and I feel like our strength is exactly that, the 53 plus that 16-man practice squad. So I think that is our strength, I don’t think you can point at one player and say this is who we are,” Campbell said. “I think it’s kind of unique that way, I appreciate that and I think our guys do.’’

It’s uncertain whether Campbell or offensive coordinator Ben Johnson will call the plays on Sunday. Johnson called them during the preseason. Campbell said Johnson is ready but he is too.

“It’s been good, it’ll be fun. He’s done a great job. This is going to be interesting to find out, I’m excited to know too,’’ Campbell said. “I’ll be honest I’m just not quite there yet, I still have this eagerness to want to call it myself.’’

Lions backup QB Nate Sudfeld practices, starts to learn offense

Tim Boyle and David Blough had every opportunity to become the Lions backup quarterback for this season. Instead both were released and the Lions signed Nate Sudfeld who was cut due to a numbers issue by the 49ers.

“They just didn’t quite make the jump we were expecting them to make,’’ Lions GM Brad Holmes said at a Thursday press conference.

It has been a whirlwind for Sudfeld who caught a red-eye flight on Tuesday night in San Francisco, landed in Detroit at 5 a.m. Wednesday and went straight to the Lions facility for meetings and practice. He managed nine hours of sleep Wednesday night and was feeling rested and ready for practice on Thursday morning.

“It happened fast, but I’m super-pumped to be here,’’ said Sudfeld who wore No. 12 which was last worn by Boyle.

He’s got a lot to learn and a short time to learn it with the regular season preparation starting next week. The season opener is Sept. 11 against the Eagles at Ford Field.

Sudfeld, who is in his seventh NFL season, has learned from other quarterbacks while at the 49ers, Eagles and Washington.

“A lot of concepts I’ve definitely run and done before, there’s a lot of new verbiage and memorization things so definitely going to continue to study, definitely a lot of carryover,’’ Sudfeld said. “There’s some different concepts I haven’t done before but I love how much we do at the line of scrimmage and how much confidence they have in Jared (Goff) and the quarterbacks getting us into the right play. Really looking forward to the opportunity.’’

Sudfeld, 28, knows Goff although they’ve never been on the same team. They have the same agent, both are from northern California and came out for the NFL draft in the same year. Occasionally they have worked out together in the offseason.

“It’s been a beautiful journey that I’ve been fortunate to be a part of and just try to get better every year, the older you get you just want to stack years and keep improving as a player,’’ Sudfeld said. “All the other stuff it’s just a matter of time, it will take care of itself.’’

Holmes didn’t address the situation, but if Blough clears waivers he could be signed to the Lions’ practice squad.

“We did what is best for the organization at this time. There were a lot of different options. You can trade a bunch of draft capital for a backup quarterback, there’s a lot of different options. We did the best thing for Detroit,’’ Holmes said.

Lions trim roster to 53 with no major surprises; Boyle, Davis released

No huge surprises were found among the Lions who were released or waived on Tuesday to cut the roster down to an NFL-mandated 53 players.

The roster is fluid and could change daily. Also, the Lions can bring back 16 players to the practice squad on Wednesday, but they must clear waivers first.

Coach Dan Campbell made it clear on Monday that the Lions will be searching for possible pickups especially since they have the No. 2 chance to sign players (due to last season’s 3-13-1 record).

Since quarterback Tim Boyle was released, it appears that David Blough has won the backup quarterback role at least for now.

Wide receiver Tom Kennedy had a good camp but could have been a victim of numbers and was not solid on special teams. Wide receivers Maurice Alexander and Kalil Pimpleton (the juggler on “Hard Knocks”) were also waived and could reappear on the practice squad. Wide receivers who made the cut are DJ Chark, Josh Reynolds, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Kalif Raymond and Quintez Cephus.

Tight end Devin Funchess didn’t make the roster. The Lions are going with tight ends T.J. Hockenson, Brock Wright, Shane Zylstra and James Mitchell.

LInebacker Jarrad Davis, who the Lions were giving a second chance, was released. Davis was a first-round pick of the Lions in 2017 but they didn’t pick up his fifth-year option in May 2020 and he signed with the Giants.

Kicker Riley Patterson was waived. Patterson and Austin Seibert seemed to be neck and neck in the position battle. Seibert was 10 of 12 on field goals for the Lions in 2021.

The Lions will open the season on Sept. 11 against the Philadelphia Eagles at Ford Field.

PLACED ON RESERVE/PUP

CB Jerry Jacobs

RELEASED

QB Tim Boyle

LB Jarrad Davis

TE Devin Funchess

DL Bruce Hector

RB Justin Jackson

T Kendall Lamm

T Dan Skipper 

WAIVED

WR Maurice Alexander

CB Cedric Boswell

TE Derrick Deese

T Obinna Eze

CB Mark Gilbert

LB James Houston

RB Godwin Igwebuike

WR Tom Kennedy

CB A.J. Parker

K Riley Patterson

T Darrin Paulo

WR Kalil Pimpleton

LB Anthony Pittman

CB Saivion Smith 

WAIVED INJURED

DL Eric Banks

WR Trinity Benson

DL Jashon Cornell

G Kevin Jarvis

S C.J. Moore