Detroit — Here’s what I learned bouncing around the Detroit Lions’ locker room following the team’s 19-9 win over the Miami Dolphins.
This one was for Jack
In the visiting locker room, in its typical spot between Derrick Barnes and Malcolm Rodriguez, the Lions set up a stall for injured linebacker Jack Campbell, jersey and all.
The emotional week of preparation centered around Campbell, who suffered a neck injury in the team’s previous contest, a victory over divisional rival Minnesota.
Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard and several players, including Barnes and Rodriguez, arrived to Hard Rock Stadium wearing Campbell’s No. 46 jersey, a group effort that equipment manager Tim O’Neill helped facilitate.
“The whole week was prepare and play like Jack,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said. “It kind of felt like we owed it to him, in a sense, because it was all we could do. I mentioned this before, he’ll take the prayers, but he didn’t want the pity. He didn’t want you wasting the time thinking about him. He certainly doesn’t want us to go and not play our best ball and lose a game. So that’s what we could do and we wanted to honor him.”
Detroit’s defense undeniably played it’s best 60 minutes of the season on Sunday. Barnes handled the sideline communication, wearing the green dot helmet that would normally belong to Campbell. Meanwhile, Rodriguez paced the unit with eight tackles, earning the start and playing more snaps than he had at any point this season.
As teammates leaned in, waiting for Barnes to relay Sheppard’s calls ahead of each snap, the veteran never let his mind wander far from his injured teammate, repeatedly asking himself, “What would Jack do?”
Barnes acknowledged he sometimes got lost in the moment, focusing too much on getting his teammates perfectly aligned that he failed to get himself in the proper position. On the sidelines between series, he reminded himself that’s something Jack wouldn’t do.
But in terms of the effort, Sunday’s was quintessentially Jack Campbell. That tone was set on the first play, when Barnes, Rodriguez and Trevor Nowaske — the three starting linebackers — all converged on Miami running back Ollie Gordon II for a gang tackle.
“Balls to the wall every play,” Nowaske said. “I know that’s what he wants, and I know that’s what everyone’s been saying all week. We just played like 46, and we’re going to continue to do that throughout the season.”
Jack Campbell was on the hearts of both teams. Like a week ago, when Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell expressed his thoughts and concerns for Detroit’s captain, Miami coach Jeff Hafley did the same to open his postgame comments.
“Thoughts and prayers with Jack Campbell,” Hafley said. “I know that was probably a very emotional game for those guys. We all hope that he’s doing better and we’re all thinking of him.”
The stall Detroit set up on Sunday, that’s going to be a permanent fixture for each of the team’s remaining games. “That locker is traveling,” Dan Campbell said.
Unexpected switch explained
During pregame warmups, it’s always worthwhile to scan the skeleton formations, just to see who is filling in for an injured starter or if anything is out of place.