Some Lions fans may be focused on who the team might bring in to help their pass rush ahead of next Tuesday's NFL trade deadline, but head coach Dan Campbell and the Lions are focused on who they have in the building that could help them get to Packers quarterback Jordan Love on Sunday.
One of those names is Al-Quadin Muhammad, who made his Lions debut last week against the Titans and was credited by Pro Football Focus with six quarterback hurries, double the next Lions defender (Levi Onwuzurike, 3).
"Man, he did some things for us," Campbell said earlier in the week. "He was active, he played aggressive, he was physical. And so, he went in there and really gave us a good day's work, which is exactly what we talked about. Now, there were a couple of things we've got to clean up mentally with him.
"And like you brought up, some of the rush, there were about three of them in there where, we get a little bit better, maybe, out of a couple of things he does, then it may help around the perimeter with (Alim McNeill) Mac and some of those other things. So, those are just little things to clean up, but man, I thought he came in and gave us a good day's work, and it's certainly something to build off of."
Asked about last week's performance, Muhammad said he was still knocking off some rust and expects to make an even bigger impact this week.
"This week, you guys are going to see some great things from me," he said.
INJURY UPDATES
The Lions won't have edge rusher Josh Paschal or linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez Sunday in Green Bay. Campbell ruled both players out Friday.
"He and Malcolm will both be out," Campbell said. "But nothing long-term, which is great news."
It's the second straight game Paschal has missed due to an illness, though Campbell did say he was hopeful his third-year edge rusher will return to the lineup next week.
Without Paschal last week in the win over the Titans, Detroit used the combination of Onwuzurike, Muhammad, Isaiah Thomas, James Houston and others to supplement their pass rush down their top three edge rushers – Aidan Hutchinson (IR), Marcus Davenport (IR) and Paschal (illness).
Rodriguez injured his ankle early last week against the Titans and has missed practice all week. He's been productive this season with 26 tackles, 2.0 sacks, two tackles for loss and a fumble recovery. It's a good thing the Lions are loaded with talent and depth at linebacker to help stem that loss of a player who does a little bit of everything for Detroit's defense and special teams.
NO LAMBEAU LEAP
If Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown finds the end zone Sunday in Green Bay, don't expect him to leap into the crowd.
"I've actually got something else in mind," St. Brown said Thursday. "So hopefully I can get in the end zone and show you guys."
Don't forget last year St. Brown scored on a 24-yard touchdown in Green Bay and went into the stands on a Lambeau Leap when he found a group of Lions fans. There was a Packers fan behind them that poured a beer on him in a clip that went viral.
"I'm good on that," St. Brown said. "One time was enough."
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE MONTH
Lions quarterback Jared Goff has been on a hot streak, and he was named NFC Offensive Player of the Month of October for his efforts.
He joins Hutchinson as Lions players to win a Player of the Month award this season. Hutchinson won the defensive award for September before his injury.
Goff led the Lions to a 3-0 record in October. In the past four games including the Monday Night Football win over the Seahawks on the last day of September, Goff has completed 84.3 percent of his passes for 972 yards with 10 touchdowns and no interceptions.
EXTRA POINT
Campbell on playing Green Bay at Lambeau Field Sunday:
"To be able to play these types of games, these big-time games, environment, division game on the road at a place that's one of those things that God created. It's where football began a little bit. We are looking forward to this. We'll be in the elements, which is great, this is like one of those you hope for this. I think we'll be all whites (uniform), so we'll have grass stains and everything rolling, it'll be good old football the way it's meant to be played."
