Monday recap: Campbell praises Arnold, new d-linemen and Lions dominating Pro Bowl voting
Allen Park — After taking a deserved weekend off after four games in 18 days, Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell met with the media Monday afternoon. Here’s a recap of that press conference.
Injury updates
Not surprisingly, there were multiple questions on injuries, both short- and long-term. Campbell offered more concrete updates on a couple of players on injured reserve than he did with the guys on the active roster battling through things because he wanted to wait until he sees them on the practice field later this week.
Regardless, earlier today I launched a new one-stop shop for injury updates, so allow me to direct you there now and forever. Sorry for requiring the extra click, but make sure to bookmark the page because it will be updated constantly.
Rookie wall be damned
Campbell opened his press conference with a lengthy opening statement. Within those comments, he highlighted several players he thought stepped up in last Thursday’s victory over the Green Bay Packers, including quarterback Jared Goff, wide receiver Tim Patrick, tight end Sam LaPorta, offensive tackle Dan Skipper, defensive tackle Pat O’Connor, defensive end Za’Darius Smith, linebacker Ezekiel Turner, rookie cornerback Terrion Arnold and punt coverage gunner Khalil Dorsey.
Regarding Patrick and Arnold, Campbell said it was the best game of the season for both. With Arnold, Campbell noted it's the time of the year when many rookies hit a wall, but those power through tend to surge across the finish line. He suggested Arnold might be following the course of some of the Lions' other foundational players, who built momentum late in their debut seasons.
“What (Amon-Ra) St. Brown did his rookie year, right, he started to take off once we hit November, December,” Campbell said. “He started to gain strength. (Penei) Sewell did the same thing, (Alim McNeill) Mac did the same thing, and I feel like that’s where Arnold’s at. He’s starting to push through this and he’s gaining enough valuable reps, experience. He’s not letting the grind of the season weigh him down and he’s getting better.”
MVP frontrunner on deck
On deck for the Lions is a talent Buffalo team that’s already clinched its division and is led by the frontrunner for this year’s MVP, quarterback Josh Allen.
The Bills QB had an electric performance in a losing effort against the Rams on Sunday, throwing for 342 yards and three touchdowns, while rushing for 82 yards and another three scores.
Allen has notably trimmed his mistakes this season, throwing just five interceptions through 13 games after tossing 18 picks a year ago.
“He is challenging, and I haven’t had a chance to truly deep dive them yet, but I do know this, he’s taken care of the football,” Campbell said. “He’s taking the plays that are there, and once he progresses and it’s not, then he uses his legs. So I feel a more patient player out of him and because of that, he’s playing at a very high level and that makes him even more dangerous.
“He’s got a big time arm, he’s accurate, he can read defenses, and then he's got the physical ability to take off and run,” Campbell said. “And he can run over people, he can run around you, he can get on the perimeter. This is going to be a huge task for us, this is not going to be easy.”
The Bills are averaging 30.5 points per game this season, second only to the Lions.
Newcomers impress
With Alim McNeill missing more than half of last Thursday’s game, the Lions had to lean even more heavily than initially planned on a group of backups and newcomers at defensive tackle.
As noted above, Campbell praised the performance of O’Connor, who logged a career-high 42 defensive snaps. I followed up by asking the coach about his impressions of Jonah Williams and Myles Adams, who had been poached off practice squads earlier in the week, as well as Brodric Martin, the second-year nose tackle making his first career start.
“Myles and Jonah, I thought both had winning performances,” Campbell said. “I thought for what we asked them to do, I thought they went in there and battled and did their job. It was good to see and it’s exactly why (general manager) Brad (Holmes) brought those guys in, because we felt like they fit what we’re about and what we need. We just need guys that are lunch pail guys, hard hat, come in a give us a good days work, do what we ask you to do and go all out doing it, and just battle, just strain. I thought those guys did that.”
Campbell wasn’t as high on Martin, the 2023 third-round draft pick who spent the first half of the season recovering from injury.
“Brodric was up and down,” Campbell said. “You have a couple (snaps) that were good and then you have some that weren’t so good. But that’s all part of the growth process, development process.”
Everyone loves the Lions
The Lions are dominating the fan vote for the Pro Bowl. In updated figures from Monday afternoon, 19 of the team’s players ranked in the top 10 at their position, including multiple who were in the top three.
Here’s the complete list.
Offense
Quarterback Jared Goff — Fifth
Center Frank Ragnow — First
Offensive tackle Penei Sewell — First
Offensive tackle Taylor Decker — Second
Guard Kevin Zeitler — First
Guard Graham Glasgow — First
Running back Jahmyr Gibbs — Third (also fifth in overall voting)
Running back David Montgomery — Eighth
Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown — Third
Tighe end Sam LaPorta — Sixth
Defense
Defensive tackle Alim McNeill — Ninth
Linebacker Jack Campbell — Ninth
Cornerback Carlton Davis III - Sixth
Free safety Kerby Joseph — First
Strong safety Brian Branch — Second
Special teams
Kicker Jake Bates — Fifth
Punter Jack Fox — Third
Long snapper Hogan Hatten — Second
Special teamer — Sione Vaki — First
The fan vote counts toward one-third of the selection process. The other two-thirds are player and coach votes. Fan balloting runs through Dec. 23, while the players and coaches will vote later that week.
The Pro Bowl will be held in Orlando on Feb. 2.
Yeah, Martin got trucked on the Packers short yardage TD.