Lions coach Dan Campbell talks coaching staff retreats, guard battle, getting young players into the lineup and more
Allen Park — Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell met with local media twice, ahead of Tuesday and Wednesday’s minicamp practices. Here are some of the highlights from those conversations.
Want to get away
Cohesion, chemistry and camaraderie are not reserved for the roster. It’s also been a continual focus with the coaching staff. That’s why Campbell organizes an annual offseason getaway open to his staff and their spouses.
This year, the group headed north to Petoskey, where, among other activities, they visited Boyne Valley Vineyards.
“The weather was beautiful and the people are unbelievable,” Campbell said. “It was a chance to relax. Us, as coaches, I say it all the time, we are like brothers. In a lot of cases, we are around each other more than we are our wives, certainly when the season starts. That is not easy. To be able to bring the wives, and all of us be together to just kind of kick back, relax, enjoy the company and, really, the area, it was beautiful.”
Earlier in the session, Campbell was asked about the importance of unplugging during the upcoming break, just given the weight of the job.
“I try to be mindful of that,” Campbell said. “I try to get the work done, but also be smart, as smart as I can in the offseason. I feel like every year you are a little bit more in tune with that and yourself. I am not perfect about it. This job is consuming, but I love it, we love it. I am sure most coaches would tell you that. It’s addictive and consuming and that is where you’ve got to be careful. But I will have the chance to step away for a minute and get out and be ready to go.”
Guard battle
A central theme this offseason has been competition. Near the top of that list is the left guard spot, where the incumbent, Christian Mahogany, will begin in pole position, but faces a slew of challengers.
“Listen, it is open, and, look, Mahogany is very much in that,” Campbell said. “He played a couple of games for us in ‘24 and then he started for us (in 2025) until he had the (leg) injury, came back, started again. So, we know he has got ability. He’s got potential.
“But there is a reason why we brought in (Ben) Bartch,” Campbell said. “There is a reason why (Miles) Frazier is here. There is a reason why all those guys are in there. We may try (Giovanni) Manu for a little bit. We are going to let this thing go and see what happens.”
Bartch hasn’t been participating in these early offseason practices while recovering from last year’s season-ending foot injury. Meanwhile, Manu and Frazier have primarily worked with the second-team offense.
Interestingly, Campbell didn’t mention Juice Scruggs, who was picked up in a trade from the Houston Texans this offseason. The newcomer has lined up at all three interior spots, including subbing in for Mahogany for an occasional series with Detroit’s top offensive grouping.
“It will be good for all of them,” Campbell said about the competition. “When you have someone nipping at your heels, you are having to compete and push. And guys are all competing for the same thing. It is good for everybody.”
Getting back on track
With each new wave of incoming talent, some holdover pieces get pushed further and further out of mind. And with a player like former fifth-round pick Colby Sorsdal, he can be even more of an afterthought after missing the previous season with injury.
But Campbell won’t dismiss anyone on the 90-man roster. They remain here for a reason and will have an opportunity to work their way into keeping a job when the regular season rolls around.
“Listen, our eyes are open,” Campbell said. “Every year, whether it is free agency or draft or any of these, you are acquiring competition. That is really what you are doing. And obviously, the more that you invest in somebody, you are saying you feel like that is the guy who is probably going to take that spot. But, it is not a guarantee. It’s not.
“(Sorsdal) is very much in that,” Campbell said. “Our eyes are open. He is coming back off of that injury. He is doing a good job out here. There again, we are not in pads, but, hey, we will see. I mean there have been guys in this league — it happens more than you would think — that are overlooked, or things happen, or it’s injury, and all off the sudden, out of nowhere, they start to get their confidence up, they start making plays, they earn a role and they earn a spot.”
Bounceback Part II
Another player in that bucket is second-year safety Dan Jackson.
He faded into the background when he suffered a season-ending leg injury during training camp as a rookie. Since then, the team added Thomas Harper via waivers and Chuck Clark and Christian Izien in free agency to bolster the depth at the position.
Where does that leave Jackson?
“Well he is a pretty smart guy,” Campbell said. “He stayed in the playbook, he was able to do that, He was around, even after the injury. He was in our building quite a bit.
“Now, real reps, real live rips, those will be new to him, and it felt he hadn’t got much of that,” Campbell said. “But, as far as the kind of the ins and outs of knowing what to do, I feel like he has done that, and it is really just playing now. He just has got to get reps. He’s got to get a full training camp and got to get preseason games and see what he can do with.”
Knowing when to pull the trigger
A well-established fact about Detroit’s offseason is the team aimed to get younger. And Campbell said they’ll be watching for opportunities to pull the trigger on some of that young talent that’s showing potential on the practice field.
“There’s going to be a learning curve for some guys’ development and how fast they can go, but we’re not going to let anybody hold us hostage,” Campbell said. “That’s not going to happen.
“…I think there’s always a balance when you get into the season of there could be a player that’s a tick better,” Campbell said. “He’s an older player, he’s a veteran player. But if you really feel like a young guy, he’s learning from his mistakes and is growing, not making the same mistake twice, and you feel constant growth, at some point, it’s time to push him into that position and let him go. Because in about four weeks, they will be better (than the veteran) and then they’ll continue to grow from there.”
These conversations are going to be notable with recent draft picks, starting with first-rounder Blake Miller, who is splitting early, pad-less reps with veteran Larry Borom.
Similarly, linebacker Jimmy Rolder and cornerback Keith Abney could reach a point within their rookie seasons where they’re pushing for playing time over Malcolm Rodriguez and Roger McCreary, two established veterans.
“At some point, you can’t wait anymore,” Campbell said. “It’s not fair to everybody else on this roster or the coaches or us or anybody.”
Worth the risk?
After taking part in a legal battle to maintain his college eligibility following acknowledgement he had wagered on thousands of games, former Cincinnati quarterback Brendon Sorsby has filed to enter the NFL via a supplemental draft.
Campbell was asked if the Lions would considered putting in an offer for Sorsby, a highly touted prospect. The coach didn’t outright dismiss the possibility.
“All I can tell you is that we look at everything,” Campbell said. “(General Manager) Brad (Holmes) looks at everything and so nothing is off the docket. Our eyes are open. Doesn’t mean we will make a move or we won’t.”
Clearly, the Lions don’t have a significant need at the position with Jared Goff firmly established as the starter and Teddy Bridgewater returning as a reliable and experienced backup. The team even has a young option generating some early buzz in Luke Altmyer, a UDFA out of Illinois.
Sorsby likely has a higher ceiling than Altmyer, but the Lions wouldn’t need the headache attached to the player’s gambling addiction, particularly after having multiple players suspended for violating the league’s gambling policy in recent years.