Tag: San Francisco 49ers

Lions coach Dan Campbell, QB Jared Goff well prepared for 49ers

Red Wings fans show Goff love; injury updates

ALLEN PARK — It all comes down to this. The city of Detroit is primed to bring home an NFC Championship and a spot in the Super Bowl.

Newfound fans — young, old and in-between — have found something to love in this bunch of Lions who already have found more success than teams for more than three decades

The Lions face the favored 49ers at San Francisco at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday. They’re preparing like it’s another game, not one that has so much on the line.

“We’re right where we need to be, the minute you start trying to make this greater than it is which is another football game right in front of you, you prepare the same way, you practice the same way, you put your socks on the same way, that’s when you run into problems,’’ coach Dan Campbell said on Friday.

Campbell, in his third season, has been the catalyst for the turn-around. He’s earned the total respect of the players who would run through walls for him.

Quarterback Jared Goff said the coach’s super power list would be long, but it starts with his people skills.

“The No. 1 thing that I think about with him is his emotional intelligence, how well he can read the room and know people. That would be characteristic No. 1 of being a leader and why he is so good at that,’’ Goff said on Friday.

“He knows when to push, when to pull, when to tell you he needs a little bit more from you, when to love you up. He’s got such a  great feel for all of that which is why he’s so special,’ Goff added.

The love and respect between Goff and Campbell is mutual. The coach expects the best on Sunday from Goff who has a Super Bowl appearance with the Rams on his resume.

 “He’s going to be great. I really – I feel great about Goff. He’s the least of my concerns. He’s going to be just fine. For him, he’s done this before. He understands it. We’re back on the road, and it’ll be a loud environment,’’ Campbell said. 

“But I mean, we’ve – man, we’ve been in some big games on the road over the last year and a half and he’s performed well. And look, we threw a ton on him last week. And I know it was at home, but we put a lot on his plate. As advanced as that defense was, all the different things they do, that required that he take on a heavy load to get us in the right play, find the matchups, read coverage and he was outstanding with that. And so, he’s going to be fine. He’s going to be ready to go, so I’m not worried about that.”

Jar-ed Goff, Jar-ed Goff

While Goff was not at the Red Wings game on Thursday night, the fans there were doing the Jar-ed Goff chant that started weeks ago at Ford Field. Videos were sent to Goff.

“That was pretty cool. … Pretty fun to be a part of a city that cares so much,’’ Goff said on Friday.

Injury update

As expected G Jonah Jackson (knee) and WR/PR Kalif Raymond (knee) are out. QB Hendon Hooker (tooth) and CB Chase Lucas (illness) are questionable.

Linebacker Alex Anzalone (shoulder/ribs) and center Frank Ragnow (ankle, toe, knee, back) will play.

“Frank’s doing well. Frank will be ready to go. You’re not going to hold him out of this one, he gets better every day. He’ll be ready,’’ Campbell said on Friday.

Lions Dan Campbell credits Sheila Ford Hamp for taking a chance, providing leadership

ALLEN PARK — It is not a coincidence that the Detroit Lions’ fortunes started their turn-around when Sheila Ford Hamp took over for her mother as principal owner and chair of the team.

This is not lost on Dan Campbell, the first coach she hired after inheriting Matt Patricia when she took over in June 2020.

Campbell, who was not a conventional hire, has brought the Lions to the NFC Championship for the first time in 32 years. They face the 49ers at San Francisco on Sunday. A win would earn them a trip to the Super Bowl.

Hamp works closely with the team, is often seen at practice and around the team facility. On draft night she’s in the war room with GM Brad Holmes and his staff. She knows what is going on and undoubtedly she made the right decision in hiring Campbell.

“It means a lot, I always wanted to do that. I always wanted to prove her right. It’s not an easy thing to do to take a chance on somebody that nobody knows about or thinks deserves a shot or whatever it is,’’ Campbell said on Thursday. “And so to trust your instincts and trust people around you and to pull the trigger, it means a lot, it sure does.’’

Campbell said once he got to know her, it made sense that she took a chance on him.

“She’s one of one, she’s unique. I’ll say this — everything we are and what we’re about started with her, it’s really her, it’s her vision,’’ the coach said.

“I’m fortunate she allows me to be myself. I don’t feel i have to be somebody I’m not. You can’t always do that and so with that I can coach, I can do what I need to do and I appreciate that,’’ he added.

The story is not over yet.

“She took a chance on me and yeah, it feels good to prove her right, but we’re not done either,’’ Campbell said.

Houston getting closer

Pass rusher James Houston is “very close” to getting back on the field, per defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn.

Houston broke his ankle in Week 2 and has not played since then. 

“We want to protect that player from himself for the most part. I do not take injuries lightly,’’ Glenn said on Thursday.

The coordinator said Houston is doing a good job in practice.

“He’s getting back to form, to the way, hopefully we’ll get a chance to get him on the field so he can make plays for us,’’ Glenn said.

Award time

Lions coach Dan Campbell is one of five finalists in the Associated Press NFL Awards released on Thursday. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson made the cut in the assistant coaches category.

Lions tight end Sam LaPorta and running back Jahmyr Gibbs are two of five finalists for offensive rookie of the year.

Lions GM Brad Holmes was named the NFL Executive of the Year by the Professional Football Writers of America.

UP NEXT: NFC Championship game featuring Detroit Lions at San Francisco 49ers, 6:30 p.m., Sunday on FOX.

Detroit Lions built Campbell-tough, ready to roll into NFC Championship game at 49ers

TE Zach Ertz arrives, hopes to help young guys

ALLEN PARK — It is not a usual week for the Lions as they prepare to face the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game on Sunday.

More at stake, more media and more attention, but the same old Dan Campbell. 

“This will be an outstanding test for us, but it’s one we’re ready for, we’re built to handle this,’’ Campbell said on Wednesday. “This will be an outstanding game on the road. Our guys will be ready to roll.’’

Since the start of the season, Campbell has said this team was built for winning. Every player in the locker room meets the standards that Campbell and GM Brad Holmes have set.

“Everything starts with ability, you have to have ability in this league. We have ability,’’ Campbell said. “But deeper than that you have to be able to handle the ebbs and flows of the game in a season, in playoffs. That’s what has been built for three years now. That’s what gives me faith.’’

Center Frank Ragnow has lived through plenty of adversity individually and with the team since 2018. He knows he is not alone.

“We’re hardened by that. I don’t want to say that makes us fearless because we definitely respect our opponent but we’re not going to back down to the battle for sure,’’ Ragnow said.

Campbell is not guaranteeing a win. That’s not his style. He’s guaranteeing his team will be ready to handle anything thrown their way.

“There are going to be things that happen in this game that it’s going to look like it’s out of control and it’s not going to go well for us. As long as we just play the next play it will turn, that’s what we’ve done all year,’’ Campbell said. “That’s the most important thing to keep in mind, but you have to be made a certain way and the team has to be made a certain way to be able to handle that. Otherwise you just crumble. That’s what gives me faith, we have a team that’s built that way.’’

The coach said there was not one certain moment in the season where he knew the team would get down to the NFL’s version of the Final Four.

“I don’t necessarily think like that. To me it’s one week at a time. It’s about finding a way to get the most wins you can, get yourself into a position when you get into the playoffs, you have the best possible advantage to advance,’’ Campbell said.

He said he would’ve said in training camp that he had a good team but it was all about getting into the postseason. 

“We got in and now we’re just one week at a time,’’ Campbell said.

Ertz on board

Veteran tight end Zach Ertz is ready to help. He was signed to the practice squad on Monday after Brock Wright was injured Sunday and participated in the team’s walk-through/practice on Wednesday.

“He’s here. I know he’s in shape. We are just going to gauge this and see where we’re at. He’ll be out here (at practice). He’s played and played at a high level,’’ Campbell said. “There’s things that he does well. It’s just a matter of: Is this the week to use him.”

Ertz said he wants to earn whatever reps he gets.

“I’m just here to support the guys anyway I can, hopefully I can teach Sam (LaPorta) or some of these young tight ends some things,’’ Ertz said.

Ertz, 33, started seven games for the Cardinals in the 2023 season and then was placed on injured reserve on Oct. 24. He was waived on Nov. 30.

INJURY UPDATE: For the Lions, the Wednesday injury report is estimated because they had a walk-through instead of practice. Jonah Jackson (knee), Sam LaPorta (knee) and Frank Ragnow (ankle, toe, knee, back) did not participate; Alex Anzalone (shoulder/ribs) and Josh Reynolds (ribs) were limited; James Houston (ankle) fully participated.

For the 49ers, WR Deebo Samuel (shoulder) did not practice on Wednesday and is uncertain for Sunday.

UP NEXT: NFC Championship game featuring Detroit Lions at San Francisco 49ers, 6:30 p.m., Sunday on FOX.