Second-year linebacker Jack Campbell has been the one constant all season for the Detroit Lions in a linebacker room that has been anything but. That room has been decimated by injury and forced to shuffle around and sign new players more than any other position for the Lions so far this season.
Detroit's lost Alex Anzalone (broken forearm), Derrick Barnes (knee) and Malcolm Rodriguez (knee) to injured reserve, though Anzalone could return at the end of the of the regular season.
Players like Ezekiel Turner, David Long Jr., Trevor Nowaske and Ben Niemann have had to fill in and play significant roles. Veterans Kwon Alexander and Jamal Adams were recently signed and are learning Detroit's system on the fly.
And helping to piece it all together has been the consistency and availability of Campbell right in the middle at the MIKE linebacker spot.
"He's been a huge rock," Turner said. "I know Jack is still young, but we treat him as the old vet in the room. He knows the playbook inside and out and health-wise he's been here longer than anybody. Him and Ben (Niemann). We definitely look to them to make sure the D-line is set make sure the backend is good with all the checks. He's (been) huge."
Campbell has been one of the most productive linebackers in the NFL this season. He's played in all 13 games and has 98 tackles, five tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble.
"I'm just continuing to progress and improve and learn," Campbell said. "Especially right now in the position I'm in trying to be a leader. Trying to lead by example but also vocally. Getting guys caught up and in-game trying to make sure everyone knows what they are doing. Just playing within the scheme and not trying to press. All those things have been my focus."
Campbell is one of 12 linebackers to log 90 tackles, five tackles for loss and three passes defended this season. Campbell also has the sixth most run stops (28) among all NFL linebackers, per Pro Football Focus. He's a big component to Detroit's No. 5 ranked run defense.
"I told him the other day, I think it was leading up to the Green Bay game, I felt like he's playing if not the highest level one of the highest levels at that position in the league the last month," linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard said.
Two more tackles Sunday against Buffalo and Campbell will record his first 100-tackle season of his young career. From Weeks 4-12, Campbell produced at least seven tackles in eight straight games, the longest streak by a Lions player since Stephen Boyd had a 13-game streak in 2000.
"I'm very pleased. I couldn't be happier the way he's progressed," Sheppard said. "Back in the spring I spoke to some of you all about his progression as a player. We knew there were things that needed to be corrected, and Jack took full accountability and now you're seeing that."
