Lions head coach Dan Campbell spoke to the media Monday following Detroit's gritty 20-13 win on the road over the Arizona Cardinals Sunday. The Lions suffered a number of injuries to some key starters in the game, which Campbell provided updates on Monday.
Here are the key questions from Campbell's Monday presser:
What are the injury updates from Sunday's game?
Unfortunately, the news is not good for veteran defensive end Marcus Davenport, who suffered a season-ending elbow injury against the Cardinals. Davenport was a big free-agent acquisition this offseason and was playing well opposite Aidan Hutchinson. That's a big loss for this defense.
Linebacker Derrick Barnes suffered a knee injury Sunday and will be out 'a significant amount of time,' per Campbell. Barnes was also playing some of the best football of his career at the SAM spot and he'll be missed. There's currently no timetable for his return.
Everyone else who suffered injuries in the contest – safety Brain Branch (neck/concussion protocol), tight end Sam LaPorta (ankle), defensive tackle Alim McNeill (shoulder) and cornerback Terrion Arnold (knee) – are all considered day-to-day, which is the positive news.
How will the Lions replace Davenport and Barnes?
The Lions have really good depth along their front seven and that should serve them well as they try to replace the production they lose with Davenport and Barnes out.
Levi Onwuzurike is a name that instantly comes to mind with how well he's played to begin the season and the versatility he has to play inside and outside. Campbell said it's also a big opportunity for third-year defensive end Josh Paschal to step up.
"Paschal, this is going to be big for him," Campbell said. "He's going to take a load over there now. He played an outstanding game, by the way. I thought he played really well yesterday. He was physical. Continues to grow. We're going to need him to step up and have all the faith that he will."
When it comes to replacing Barnes, Campbell said he has a ton of faith in the depth they have at linebacker. He talked about Ben Niemann, who didn't take any SAM reps during the week, but stepped in when Barnes went down and had a couple tackles.
"We have a lot of depth, and we trust every player in there," Campbell said of the linebacker room. "It's going to hurt to lose Barnes. Barnes is playing at a high level. But if it has to happen in any room, the linebacker room gives you faith because all those guys can play, and we have a ton of faith in those guys."
Campbell made a good point when he said they talk as coaches all the time about it being a 69-man roster and not a 53-man roster because they are going to count on their practice squad and backups throughout the course of the season.
"It's next man up and we don't bat an eye," he said.
Who were some players that impressed Campbell after watching the tape of the game on Monday?
Offense: Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, the entire offensive line (Penei Sewell, Kevin Zeitler, Frank Ragnow, Graham Glasgow and Taylor Decker), running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, and tight end Brock Wright, who Campbell said played his best game of the season.
Defense: Safety Kerby Joseph, cornerback Carlton Davis III, defensive tackle DJ Reader, Hutchinson and Branch.
Special teams: Punter Jack Fox and cornerback Khalil Dorsey.
"I don't know how you play any better than Fox did," Campbell said. "Their average start line was the 8-yard line after five punts. Big time, man. Fox just continues to raise his level of play."
How good did Carlton Davis play Sunday?
Campbell thought the veteran cornerback played at a 'high level' Sunday and thinks he's gotten better every week.
"That's the guy I know," Campbell said.
One of the big reasons why Campbell and the Lions traded for Davis this offseason was because Campbell got to know Davis by facing him twice a season when Campbell was coaching in New Orleans and Davis was playing in Tampa Bay.
"He's sticky in coverage and physical in the run game," Campbell said.
Campbell said it's one thing for a team's offensive line and defensive line to set the tone for a game, but if you want to see a physical team, look at the receivers in the run game and the defensive backs in the run game. Campbell likes the way his players in those spots come up and hit, block and tackle. Davis is a catalyst for that.
