Tag: Jack Campbell

Detroit Lions can’t find offensive rhythm in preseason loss to Jaguars

Bridgewater gets start; 5 rookies have standout games

DETROIT — Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater made his Detroit Lions’ debut, playing most of the first half, in the Lions’ 25-7 preseason loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars at Ford Field on Saturday.

“It’s tough to lose no matter what time of year it is and what you’re doing. You don’t like to lose that way but also you have to keep in perspective it is about evaluation,’’ coach Dan Campbell said. “We’re trying to put these guys in position where you can find out about them a little bit and I felt like we found out a few players today that we have to know.’’

Bridgewater, whose first practice with the team was on Monday, got sacked on his first snap. He didn’t get many reps in the joint practices with the Jaguars this week, so playing time was crucial. 

“I thought Teddy was solid. I mean there are always going to be things to clean up, but in my head it was always about getting him in a flow, let’s get him in there, let’s get him used to how we run our offense, our cadence, our shifts, our motions and just go play a little bit,’’ Campbell said. “It wasn’t that he was going to have a perfect quarterback rating.’’

Bridgewater completed five of 11 passes for 34 yards and carried the ball once for negative-8 yards playing behind the second-string offensive line. Most of the offensive starters were on the sidelines. 

“There’s some throws you wish he had back, a couple of things. But also I thought he made some really good throws too,’’ Campbell said. “He had probably three drops that could’ve been for conversions.’’

Quarterback Nate Sudfeld (9-of -18, 80 yards and one touchdown) took over with 1:45 left in the first half and finished the game. Campbell said the original plan was for Bridgewater to play three series, but since they were three-and-outs, he wanted him to get a chance to get into a flow.

While offensively the Lions couldn’t get into a rhythm, Campbell found other positives.

“I thought we had some really good returns on special teams. I thought on defense – we had a couple things early – but ultimately I thought our defense made some critical stops and played pretty good football for a while,’’ Campbell said.

The defense, second- and third-stringers, gave up 399 yards of offense to the Jags who started quarterback C.J. Beathard.

While most Lions’ starters did not play, a few rookies made the most of their time against the Jags. Some of them including Sam LaPorta and Jahmyr Gibbs did not see action. Here are five rookies — four of them undrafted — who stood out:

1. Not surprisingly, first-round pick Jack Campbell’s impact was tough to miss. The linebacker led the Lions with seven tackles and played into early in the second half. “I felt like it was let’s let him go a little bit, let’s let him play. His was just speed of the game, picking it up, playing faster. We feel like the more he plays the more we’re going to see out of him,’’ Campbell said.

2. Wide receiver Chase Cota is trying to make a case to fill a spot on the roster. He picked up where he left off in the preseason win over the Giants when he had four catches for 60 yards from Nate Sudfeld. Against the Jags, he returned a punt for 28 yards and finished with one catch for 8 yards while playing with Bridgewater. With Sudfeld in the game, a wide-open Cota caught a 1-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter. “We got a call, it was like a bunch of cross and stuff and so I knew as long as I could get hidden in there I could come out the backside Scot-free kind of,’’ Cota said. “It worked out really good, we executed and everyone pulled their guys away. It was exciting to celebrate with the fans.’’

3. Cornerback Steven Gilmore gave up a deep catch in the first quarter but came back and saved a touchdown with a pass breakup in the endzone on a third-and-9 play. He followed that up with an interception. The ball was touched by Tracy Walker and bobbled into Gilmore’s arms. “Those are the types of things you’re looking for from these young players. These things are going to happen, you’re going to get hit on a play, something bad is going to happen, you may get a flag thrown on you, it’s all about what happens next,’’ Campbell said. “You want to know if these players are resilient, I would say Gilmore that was encouraging. You give up a big one and then you go right back, don’t bat an eye and you get a knockdown in the red zone then he gets a ricochet interception those things are big.’’

4. Wide receiver Dylan Drummond, who has been solid throughout camp, caught two passes for 29 yards — including a 23-yarder — on five targets.

5. Cornerback Starling Thomas, a standout during training camp so far, returned two kicks for a total of 66 yards and picked up four tackles on defense.

NEXT UP: The Lions play their final preseason game at 8 p.m. on Friday at the Carolina Panthers. The roster must be cut to 53 players by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 29. It’s the only NFL cutdown date this year.

Lions rookies, once Iowa teammates, face off in rookie minicamp

ALLEN PARK — The matchup between linebacker Jack Campbell and tight end Sam LaPorta at Detroit Lions rookie minicamp on Saturday was unlike the others.

On one play, LaPorta beat Campbell to the ball and there appeared to be a little finger-waving involved. Not a big deal, it was just one play with two buddies lining up against each other.

Campbell, a first-round pick, and LaPorta, a second-rounder, both played the last four years at Iowa. Not only were they teammates, the last two years they lived in the same house with a bunch of buddies.

“It’s like backyard football, not actually, but you’re going against your buddy, we’re competing,’’ LaPorta said. “That’s what we all love, we love football and it’s so fun to do it against Jack.’’

Campbell said that competition brings out the best in both of them.

“Hats off to him, he’s an incredible player, you guys know that. All you can do is keep going, every rep, give it your all, focus, (be) fundamentally sound. Obviously I’ll look back on it. There’s definitely something better I could’ve done, but it was a helluva play by him,’’ Campbell said. “In a real game I’m going back to the huddle and get ready for the next play, you can’t sulk about anything.’’

It was just the second day of the three-day Lions’ rookie minicamp for them along with the other draft picks and undrafted free agents. First-round pick running back Jahmyr Gibbs did not participate after a minor tweak on Friday. Cornerback Brian Branch, second round, also was out with a minor injury. Quarterback Hendon Hooker (third round) was watching and taking mental reps. He’s coming off an ACL injury with no timetable on when he’ll be able to participate.

Lions assistant GM Ray Agnew said in this three-day camp they’re looking for movement and to see if the rookies are learning.

“I’m a big believer, if you love the game you’ve got a chance to be a good football player,’’ Agnew said. “They love the game, they’re passionate about the game. We love all the guys that we’ve got.’’

LaPorta and Campbell both showed off their speed and competitiveness.

In fact, LaPorta, wearing No. 87, was a standout throughout the practice which was open to the media. He’s got speed and it showed. He was asked if he looks faster in person than on tape.

“Maybe. Somebody called me underwhelming one time. I think I can play with the best of them,’’ LaPorta said.

LaPorta will help fill the gap left when Detroit traded away tight end T.J. Hockenson at the trade deadline last season. He joins Lions tight ends Brock Wright, James Mitchell, Shane Zylstra and Derrick Deese Jr. 

He’s just getting a feel for the offense.

“They demand a lot, very small details, I’m learning all the real intricate details of the system right now. Of course I’ve messed them up a couple times already. You’ve probably heard them yelling at me,’’ LaPorta said. “Those details are really what separates you apart in the National Football League. They were great last year and I hope I can contribute this year.’’

It’s not lost on him that he’s joining an offense that was ranked fourth in the NFL last year.

“Maybe I’m a little naive, I think all rookies are. The hair on the back of my neck stood up, I got chills, when I heard we were going to Arrowhead to open up the season,’’ LaPorta said. “I’m living my dream of playing ball. I never thought I’d be in this situation but here I am.’’

And it’s on the same field with his Hawkeye buddy.

Coach Dan Campbell has said he expects Jack Campbell, who wears No. 46, to be a starter on Day One. 

“Obviously it’s high expectations for me, but everything is earned. I’m going to come into a room with other guys who are going to be super hungry. I look forward to meeting them, learning from them,’’ Jack Campbell said. “All I can do is prepare to the best of my ability and let my talents and everything else take me to where I need to go. I’m going to do everything I can to put this team in the best position to win games, whatever it is. Right now a lot of people have high expectations, that’s all good, I’m going to stick to what I know, who I am and come out here every day and give it my all.’’

The rookies will get their first turn at practicing with the veterans when OTAs begin on May 23.

Lions GM Brad Holmes can’t hide emotions – he’s thrilled with draft

ALLEN PARK — When the cameras focus in on the NFL war rooms on draft weekend, many of the reactions include big smiles, a little hand-shaking, not much else. Ho-hum.

Not so for the Lions with GM Brad Holmes. At all. He’s punching tables, high-fiving and bear-hugging colleagues after making his picks. 

He’s also thrown some inadvertent elbows to whoever might be too close. It’s still legend how Rod Wood, team president, was on the wrong end of Holmes’ celebration when Penei Sewell was drafted.

So this year Holmes told himself and others in the room he was going to try to be more disciplined.

It didn’t work.

“I guess I just can’t state it or emphasize it enough that we draft players that we love,’’ Holmes said when the three-day draft was complete on Saturday.

“When you’re able to get them sometimes you can’t control the emotion. It’s genuine. It’s authentic. You find that guy you love and that’s a fit for what we’re about and what our culture is and what we want our football team to look like, you just really can’t control your emotions.

Most of the time the object in front of me is a table, that’s what gets the beating all the time,’’ he added.

It’s all an indication that Holmes was “thrilled” with the eight players he drafted.

In the first round he nabbed running back Jahmyr Gibbs and linebacker Jack Campbell. He sees both as immediate impact players.

He was criticized for maybe taking Gibbs too early with the 12th pick, but he made no apologies. He was the player they wanted at that spot. 

Ultimately what he’s trying to accomplish is to win more games. The end of last season was good but not good enough because they didn’t get to the playoffs.

“I know a lot will be said that ‘you acquired a running back in the first round.’ We didn’t acquire a running back in the first round. We acquired an elite weapon to keep our offense explosive in the first round,’’ Holmes said.

“We didn’t acquire an inside linebacker in the first round, we acquired a legit anchor to elevate our defense in the first round. That’s what the ultimate goal is, that’s what our vision is. We couldn’t be more excited about how the weekend went,’’ said Holmes who was wearing a black sweatshirt featuring a large photo of coach Dan Campbell on the front.

“I told you all this is my brother, this is my guy,’’ Holmes said. “I love this sweatshirt.”

Holmes, who just finished his third draft with the Lions, also made a big move on Saturday, trading running back D’Andre Swift who he called a “dynamic, electric football player.” Swift was sent to the Eagles — Philadelphia is his hometown —  for an earlier seventh-round pick on Saturday and a fourth-round pick in 2025.

“It’s my job to keep laser-focused on the present, but probably even more to keep laser-focused on the future. That’s what went into a lot of decisions with having to make the trade of D’Andre Swift to Philly,’’ Holmes said. “He was in the last year of his contract. Going back to last year I felt good about bringing back Jamaal Williams, it didn’t happen. You have to be prepared for those things.

 “We don’t draft scared, we don’t kind of play scared. The thing with Jahmyr Gibbs, that’s the guy we loved. Again, having to keep that laser focus for the future and we wanted to do the right thing for the player,’’ Holmes said.

2023 Lions draft

RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama, first round (12th overall)

LB Jack Campbell, Iowa, first round (18th overall)

TE Sam LaPorta, Iowa, second round (34th overall)

DB Brian Branch, Alabama, second round (45th overall)

QB Hendon Hooker, Tennessee, third round (68th overall)

DL Brodric Martin, Western Kentucky, third round (96th overall)

OL Colby Sorsdal, William & Mary, fifth round (152nd overall)