Despite a lot of talk outside the building to the contrary, the sky is not falling over the Meijer Performance Center after last week's loss to Buffalo that snapped Detroit's 11-game win streak and dropped them to 12-2 on the season.
"When you haven't lost since September, so there's the loss element and then there's the injury element and so everything gets compacted," Lions head coach Dan Campbell said Wednesday.
"So, you really need to address both and that's what we did, one is say we mentioned it. We got popped in the mouth and we have to get up off the ground and we have to go back to work and reposition ourselves to be able to play the next game and learn from what just happened."
Campbell said the other part is not losing confidence and everyone having confidence in the fact their leader still believes they have the pieces they need in the building to reach their goal.
"We still have really good players here on defense and that we have good coaches and that we can play any way that we need to play from that standpoint, but as well as offense and special teams and still win games," he said. "It's my job to alleviate stress in some areas and just kind of balance the buoy. And we'll do that."
Campbell said this week was about getting back to basics and fixing the issues that plagued them in the loss to the Bills. Stay focused on what's in front of them. Worry about Wednesday and Wednesday's practice.
The concern outside the building has mostly focused on the 20-plus players currently on injured reserve with a couple more key players — defensive lineman Alim McNeill and cornerback Carlton Davis III — added to the list Sunday. Campbell said despite the injuries he has a lot of faith in the players he still has on defense to get it done.
"I believe in Kerby (Joseph), I believe in (Brian) Branch, I believe in (DJ) Reader, I believe in Za'Darius (Smith), I believe in Levi (Onwuzurike), I believe in Amik (Robertson), (Terrion) Arnold, guys like (Pat) O'Connor, I mean – Ben Niemann, Jack Campbell, so we're good and we'll figure out how we need to play," Campbell said.
"We've already begun to do that and really, everything that we do from this point on is, how do we get to where we're playing the very best football with where we're at now, with what we have, by the time we hit the playoffs."
Campbell told the players Wednesday morning nobody writes their story but them and they are excited for the opportunity to put a bounce-back chapter in the book Sunday in Chicago.
MELIFONWU WINDOW OPENS
The Lions opened the 21-day practice window for veteran safety Ifeatu Melifonwu (Reserve/Injured) Wednesday. Melifonwu was set to come off IR a few weeks back after an ankle injury kept him out the first half of the season, but he suffered a finger injury in practice that landed him back on the list.
"We get him out at practice, do we think he could help us as early as Sunday? I don't know that right now, and I won't until we get him out there running around a little bit," Campbell said this week.
HOLDING PATTERN
Running back David Montgomery is seeking a third opinion on his injured knee, which is why the Lions have yet to place him on season-ending IR.
"It is one of these injuries that's unique because you need to know is it stable, is it fixed or will it scar and then be certainly stable for now and for later," Campbell said. "And then you have to rely on him, like, 'Hey man, I'm good. I can do this.' So, it's a combination certainly of the doctors, but him as well, where he thinks he can go with it, can he protect himself and play at a high level.
"So, we're in a holding pattern, which as of right now, that's a positive."
If there's a chance Montgomery could make it back at some point in the coming weeks, that would be a big boost for the Lions' rushing attack.
COMPETITION AT RB
We know Jahmyr Gibbs is going to take on a bigger role with Montgomery dealing with a knee injury, but assistant head coach and running backs coach Scottie Montgomery said the roles behind Gibbs are still undefined and it depends on how practice goes this week.
Scottie Montgomery was very deliberate to include practice squad running back Jermar Jefferson in the conversation with Craig Reynolds and Sione Vaki for roles in Detroit's backfield moving forward. Jefferson has a career 4.9-yard average per carry when he got a chance to play in 2021 as a rookie and ran 15 times for 74 yards and two touchdowns.
"They have an unbelievable opportunity today in practice to compete against each other for some of these opportunities," Montgomery said Wednesday. "Those three guys will have a good chance to compete today for what's going to happen on Sunday."
ROSTER MOVES
The Lions made a number of roster moves Tuesday as they start preparations for Sunday's matchup in Chicago.
The team placed Davis (jaw), McNeill (knee) and cornerback Khalil Dorsey (ankle) on Reserved/Injured.
Linebacker Anthony Pittman was signed off Jacksonville's practice squad. Pittman spent his first four seasons in the league with the Lions playing in 52 games.
Detroit also released defensive end Isaiah Thomas from the practice squad and signed cornerback Stantley Thomas-Oliver to the practice squad. Thomas-Oliver played in 25 games for Carolina from 2020-2022.
EXTRA POINTS
- The Lions are the NFL's only undefeated team on the road this season (6-0) and enter Week 16 with the top scoring offense at 32.8 points per game.
- Chicago quarterback Caleb Williams has an active streak of 286 consecutive pass attempts without an interception, the longest active streak in the NFL and the longest streak of pass attempts without an interception by a rookie in NFL history. He's looking to make it nine straight games without an interception Sunday.
