Tag: dan campbell

Lions Jameson Williams ready to go after serving 2-game suspension

ALLEN PARK — Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams will not be working himself back into the game after serving a two-game NFL suspension for using performance enhancing drugs. He’ll be dropped back into action like he was never gone.

Williams will be on the field at the Houston Texans on Sunday night.

“Honestly, we’re throwing him back in there, he’s going,’’ coach Dan Campbell said, making a kicking motion from the podium. “Let’s go. We’re going to kick him out there with the offense and get him going. I expect him to be ready to roll.’’

Williams can’t wait. He watched both games he missed with his brother at his house.

“I was just thinking I can’t wait until I get back out there with the guys, I missed the guys and missed practicing, I didn’t have too much to do,’’ Williams said on Wednesday.

He was able to be at the practice facility, work out and attend meetings. But he couldn’t practice, travel or attend games.

“I was staying really close to my closest people. I’ve got closest people who checked on me a lot and made sure I was OK,’’ Williams said.

He has the unwavering support from Campbell.

“It means a lot, that’s my head coach. I’ve been through a lot playing under him. We’ve bumped heads in certain situations but now I see his faith in me and he understands what happened and things like that,’’ Williams said. “It’s big to me, him having faith in me and being along with me in those situations.’’

It was his second suspension in two years. The NFL also sat him down at the beginning of the 2023 season for gambling.

Like Campbell, his teammates have not given up on him.

“We’re a team, they’re my brothers. They knew what really was going on, they knew what really happened. It wasn’t looking at it from the outside in, like most people were,’’ Williams said. “When your brother’s down you have to pick them up just like I do for anybody else when they’re down. I’d say that’s the main thing, it’s the brotherhood.’’

In the first six games, the wide receiver had 17 catches for 361 yards (21.2 yards per catch) and three touchdowns. He also ran four times for 32 yards.

The Lions (7-1) won both games without him and remain atop the NFC North.

Dan Campbell: Lions can beat anybody in the League

Despite key injuries Detroit remains atop the NFC North

ALLEN PARK — With eight games down and nine remaining, coach Dan Campbell knows his team is in a good place.

“I feel like we can beat anybody in the League,” Campbell said on Monday.

The Lions have not coasted to a 7-1 record and top spot in the NFC North, they have fought for it. Sunday’s 24-14 win at Green Bay and the 31-29 win at the Vikings two weeks ago have made them a definite favorite in the talented NFC North.

Campbell said on Monday it’s a credit to his staff for the season so far.

“We’ve lost eight significant players on defense and we continue to rise up,’’ Campbell said. “There are things we are not as good at overall, but yet there are things that matter to getting off the field defensively and limiting points that we’re damn good at. That’s the most important thing about playing defense. We’ve earned what we’ve got so far.’’

They are coming off an impressive win at Green Bay on Sunday in the wind and pouring rain. It was the Lions first outdoor game this season against a team that’s built to play outside. But you would never know that from the results.

Jared Goff started the game 11-for-11 in passing despite the elements. The Lions did not turn the ball over in the slippery conditions. Safety Brian Branch was kicked out of the game in the second quarter and still the defense was effective.

“I really believe we can play anywhere in any type of element. We can play indoors with a big crowd, we can play if it’s COVID season again and nobody is there,’’ Campbell said. “I just think that’s how we are, that’s how this team is, that’s the type of guys we have, that’s the type of coaches we have. That’s part of our culture, that’s part of our identity.’’

Throw anything at this bunch and they continue to win and possibly exceed expectations that were high.

“I would say it’s satisfying to know you can do that,’’ Campbell said.

With the trade deadline on Tuesday, the coach said GM Brad Holmes is working the phones but nothing is imminent and it’s not entirely up to them. With Aidan Hutchinson out they could use pass-rush help.

If no deal is made, Campbell said they’ll scour practice squad rosters to see if there are players they have had an eye on. 

UP NEXT: Lions (7-1) at Houston Texans (6-3), 8:20 p.m. on Sunday,

Lions continue to roll, knocking off division-rival Packers, 24-14

Five reasons Detroit won its sixth straight game

Throw the Lions a challenge – like pouring rain, wind and a slippery field — and they do not flinch. They march forward because that’s what they do.

The conditions were nasty at Lambeau Field on Sunday where the Lions played their first outdoor game of the season. No problem. 

Detroit dominated the Green Bay Packers, 24-14, in a key NFC North battle.

“I’m not shocked one bit that we came out here and played pretty good football out in the elements,’’ coach Dan Campbell said. “We’re built for this. Just because we play indoors it doesn’t matter. We can play anywhere — we can play in the snow, play in the rain, play in the mud, that’s just us. We’re built to win, man.’’

 The Lions remain atop the NFC North and are 2-0 in division games. It was their third straight road win at Lambeau, the first time that happened since 1986-88.

Detroit  took a 17-3 lead at the half after a pick six by Kerby Joseph and never looked back.
“You can’t brush over the things you’re not doing well. Just because you got a win you’ve got to make sure we’re identifying those things we have to get cleaned up because we’ll get exposed,’’ Campbell said. “There are things all over this tape, there are things we have to clean up in a hurry across the board and we will.’’

Five reasons the Lions won:

ONE: Jared Goff was his normal, calm, amazing self despite the wind and rain that pelted the field at Lambeau. He finished 18 of 22 for 145 yards, 1 touchdown and a 109.3 rating. It was his fifth straight game without throwing an interception. “I’ve just grown so much mentally and physically, as you get older you learn when to take the chances and when not to,’’ goff said. “I know I’ve said this before but I just feel like I’m playing pretty disciplined and trying to take care of the ball and get in our playmakers hands. There’s a couple I’d like back today.

TWO: Running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs continued their dominance with a combined 138 rushing yards. A slick field? Not a problem for these guys. It was Gibbs’ third straight game with a touchdown and his fourth in the last three games. 

THREE: The defense could have dropped their shoulders and  packed it in after safety Brian Branch was kicked out of the game in the second quarter for a helmet-to-helmet hit. They did not. Safety Kerby Joseph had a pick six and Packers QB Jordan Love moved the ball (411 total yards) but couldn’t score going one of four in the red zone. With 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter when it looked like the Packers might get into the endzone, Detroit’s defense made a fourth-down stand and got the ball back.

FOUR: Red zone dominance. The Lions were two of four in the red zone which is a dropoff from their two previous wins but still good enough to win. The  Lions were 5 of 5 in the red zone against the Titans and 1-0 against the Vikings.

FIVE: Green Bay’s mistakes were so costly. That includes 10 penalties costing 67 yards compared to just five for Detroit. Brandon McManus missed a 46-yard field goal. Love has thrown at least one interception in each game this season. The Packers fumbled three times but were able to recover them.  Early in the week Dan Campbell said he thought the game would come down to a key mistake late in the game. Instead it was the Packers’ mistakes throughout.

UP NEXT: Lions (7-1) at Houston Texans (6-3), 8:20 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 10. The next matchup for the Lions and Packers is at Ford Field, 8:20 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 5.