Campbell dives into the Lions' quest for complete football, injury updates, and his thoughts on spreading the ball as they face Minnesota.
The Lions are fresh off their bye week — one that, for the first time in a long time, actually landed right in the middle of the season. Fans got treated to some great off-week content, from Dan Skipper sunbathing in a pool to Jahmyr Gibbs lounging on the couch with his pups.
Now, the Lions are back to work as they gear up for a divisional matchup at home against the Minnesota Vikings. It’s the first of two meetings between the teams this season, with the second coming on Christmas Day. And while it’s not Christmas yet, it always feels like Christmas when the Lions play football — especially after a week without them.
Dan Campbell took the podium Tuesday for his first presser post-bye. Here’s what stood out:
On Playing Complete Football
“We haven’t played our best ball yet — in all three phases. We know it’s going to take every phase, and every game is different. But man, we need to start playing complete ball across the board. That’s where we’re at. We’ve got Minnesota coming in, and we’ll hit more on that tomorrow.”
On Getting Everyone Involved
When asked if there are players he wants to utilize more, Campbell said:
“Not going to highlight who they are. But it’s about how we set them up for success. Sometimes you’ve got guys with a lot of production, but there are some negatives that come with it too.”
On Former Assistants Succeeding
“I saw the end of it. I’m keeping up with AG (Aaron Glenn). Text back and forth. Big fan of AG… found a way to win, and to get that first one — it’s a good feeling.”
He also noted he’s proud of his coaching tree and the success his former assistants are having.
On Injuries and Returning Players
“We’re getting some guys back to practice, which is the number one thing. Take a look at Arnold — he’ll practice tomorrow and says he feels good. We’ll be padded up, so we’ll get a good look at him.”
He also confirmed the Lions have started the clock on Malcolm Rodriguez, meaning he's trending toward returning.
On Self-Scouting During the Bye
“Most of it for me was offense — not all of it. Looked at defense too. But offensively, just tightening screws. Tighten a belt, and all of a sudden this thing’s running like a well-oiled machine.”
Campbell said he spent the bye reflecting with coaches and players on areas they can fine-tune heading into the stretch run.
On Work-Life Balance During the Bye
“That’s probably a question for my wife,” Campbell joked. “I say I’m not working, but I’m always working. I don’t know if I’m easy to deal with or not.”
Classic Dan.
On Amon-Ra, Gibbs, and Distribution
“Number one, what do you gotta do to win that game? Start there. Then inside of that, how do we spread the ball around? Main thing is converting on third down — that’s the glaring issue right now. It’s always one guy — ten do their job, one doesn’t. Then it flips the next time. We’ve got to clean that up.”
On Third-Down Struggles
When asked if down-and-distance is the problem, Campbell was quick:
“No. It’s collective. It’s the full unit. We’re gonna keep tweaking it.”
On Facing the Vikings’ QB Situation
“I’m assuming McCarthy’s gonna play, but we’ll be ready for whoever they go with. If he does play, they’ll calm it down for him — do things he does well. Run the ball. Doesn’t matter who’s at QB; they’ll be prepared to move the ball and score.”
On the Interior Offensive Line
“Both guards have improved. There’s clear and noticeable progress. Still a lot to go, and they know that. Once that happens, the whole unit gets better. But since Green Bay, they’ve taken a noticeable jump.”
Campbell closed the presser on that positive note — crediting his O-line’s growth while keeping the focus on what lies ahead.
Takeaways:
- Third-down efficiency remains the top priority.
- Key players are trending back toward health.
- The Lions’ self-scouting focused heavily on offense.
- Minnesota awaits, and the energy in Allen Park feels refreshed.
The Lions are rested, refocused, and ready to roll again — and so are we.