August 25, 2026
On Lions S Thomas Harper and Lions LB Damone Clark: “No, Damone will be – he is done indefinitely. So, this injury took place, shoot man, three weeks ago I guess, two weeks ago. So unfortunately, it’s significant enough to where he’ll be out indefinitely. And then Harper has an ankle. It’s just, how fast could he be ready this weekend? I think it’s unlikely, but you never know.”
On the goals for this week as the team approaches the final preseason game and the regular season: “Tricky, it is tricky, but I do think number one, the focus is on getting this team prepared to play the season and us to be the best version of ourself, that’s number one. Number two is we still have spots available on this roster that we’re going to need to fill with guys that are here right now, that we think have an opportunity, but we don’t know who that is. So, there are real spots still available. And with that, not just spots, those guys could be playing for a significant time. ‘OK, he is roster and there’s a chance if he makes this roster, he’s going to play for us a few snaps a game or he’s – .’ You know what I mean? So that’s important too, that’s kind of the next step in this. So, you have to balance a little bit of that. But ultimately, I also know I’m trying to get this team ready for New Orleans physically, mentally, emotionally, all of those things. We’re not diving into them yet, we’re not game playing, but I just know we have to start working on us a little bit here to get ourselves sharpened up.”
On the new Lions ‘Rivalries’ uniforms: “Yeah, I think I like them. I mean, I think they look pretty good. I mean, I saw them two years ago, I haven’t seen them since. Are they out? Yeah, I like them. I mean, to me, I think they look good. I think our guys will like them. Anything’s a little bit unique, I kind of like the grayish. You guys know me, I like black, I like gray. So I think it looks good, man, those helmets are always pretty cool.”
On the positions that have the most room for moving and shaking over the final week: “That’s a good question. The D-line room is, I mean, that can go anyway right now, it really can. I mean, there’s a number of guys in there, the hard thing is you can’t keep all those guys. You just can’t, not without it hurting the rest of your roster. And there are some good players in there and there’s some veterans, there’s some young guys, there’s raw talent, but there’s things in there that you really like. And that thing is up in the air right now in a number of spots. That’s probably the most significant. Backend of the O-line is always going to be up. I say that, there’s a chance that player’s not even here yet either. So it’s not just here, it’s also the other 31 teams. That’s a competition right now with somebody that might not even be in the building. Those are big, receivers still, backend of that receiver room is still pretty big right now. So look, there’s still spots available. It’s interesting, the D-line room is the most interesting. It’s just top to bottom, there are a ton of good players in there, we feel like.”
On Lions DL Ben Stille: “He’s a pro, smart, really smart. He’s got versatility, strong, very strong. He can shed blocks, shock, shed, make plays, kind of knows himself, knows what he is, knows his own limitations and can play fast enough to cover up for some of those. But that’s what’s the intrigue with him is the versatility, man. He can play some big end we think, he can play the nose certainly, and then three if you needed it. So the more you can do and the more that you can prove you can do, that is always going to help your case.”
On if Lions DL Ben Stille reminds him of former Lions DL John Cominsky: “I would say that’s fair. I think that’s fair. I think he’s a much more, and believe me, Commish was a jacked up – this guy is even more. He’s more suited inside out, Commish was a little more three big end that could swing on some other things, but the versatility is real, we feel like when you just kind of watch it and what they’re able to do and I think that’s a fair comparison of the versatility.”
On how Lions DL Skyler Gill-Howard got his nickname of ‘Sun Bleach’: “Well, that was just first day he showed up for camp, I just saw the golden tips and I said, ‘Oh, the sun bleached it, huh?’ So he’s been Sun Bleach ever since. He’s done a good job, man, kid’s worked his tail off and just keeps getting better and better, all those guys do.”
On if giving players nicknames is endearment: “Yeah, I would say so. I mean, I don’t give nicknames if I don’t like you. But that doesn’t mean that if you didn’t get a nickname that I’m not, ‘I don’t like this guy, you’re just freaking whatever, Bart.’ But yeah, I like to have a good time.”
On how the defensive tackle role changes with the defense shifting to more nickel formations: “Here’s what I would say. We always try to do the best we can with this and (Lions Executive Vice President and General Manager) Brad (Holmes) does an unbelievable job. He does every year, he has every year. I mean, as a matter of fact, he’s grinding right now, he’s a grinder. I mean, he is going to watch everything he can over any and every player, and he is not going to recommend or say something about a player that he has not seen. But I think with that, to answer your question, man, who are the best players, the most impactful players we think that have a shot to come in here and compete? (Lions DL Skyler) Gill-Howard is one of those people, right? Just like (Lions DL Mekhi) Wingo was a couple of years ago and certainly (Lions DL Alim McNeill) Mac and (Lions DL) Levi (Onwuzurike). We got (Lions DL Tyler) Lacy last year and we can keep going. (Lions DL) Chris Smith. All right, yeah, nickel. But ultimately, (Lions Defensive Coordinator Kelvin Sheppard) Shepp’s done a good job, just like (Lions Offensive Coordinator) Drew (Petzing), ‘Man, what is our best personnel group? Who are the best players?’ And let’s ask them to do what they do well. Now, they’re going to have to do some of the things maybe they don’t do as well, but they’re not going to major in that. Somebody else can do some of those things. And so we’re going to find the best personnel for us, and that’s what we’ll play in too. So not only roster, but look, yeah, nickel, we’d like to. But if we’re not suited for nickel right now because of whatever, an injury or this, man, we’ll play base, we’ll play it the whole game. We’ll play dime, we’ll play dollar. We’re going to put the best guys out there that we think give us a chance, so we’re not handcuffed by that.”
On if the defensive line has to look different stylistically if they play in more nickel defense: “Not necessarily, because we can package those guys. And it doesn’t mean that an offense can’t, ‘OK, hey, that’s a lighter group. We’re going to run the ball.’ Well, yeah, somebody’s going to run it, they should. We would do that to people too, but they’re not going to make a living of that. And if they do those things, then something that might not suit you, you’ve got to be able to – you’ve got to hold your own. You’ve got to hold your own at times.”
On if they are targeting players along the defensive line who can shoot gaps better: “No, no, no, we don’t shoot gaps. Yeah, we don’t shoot gaps here. Now, rush is different. You telling me it’s second-and-long, we can pin our ears back and we can get some keys, yeah, rush. But we don’t shoot gaps, man, we’re not doing that. Now, by pressure, we move, but then we get back in the gaps, stuff like that. Yeah, we’re a different scheme than some of the stuff that other teams run, that’s just us.”
On any updates with Lions S Kerby Joseph: “Nothing new, he’s doing well. Nothing new. He’s not here right now, he will be though.”
On who is in the race for nickel cornerback and if they plan to have one starting nickel or plug and play based on down and distance: “I would say yes, it’s still open. And yes, we’ll use whoever we think is best by down and distance or personnel or whoever it is. It could be any one of those guys potentially if they make it. Or it could even be a guy like (Lions CB Nick) Whiteside. Let’s say he makes it, maybe he’s one of those pieces that he’s put in there for a certain down or whoever that player is, or they’re playing 12-personnel. That’s where we’re trying to figure out some of this is how do we build this roster? What can they do? Where? Can we get them to the game? That’s kind of part of the trick with all this.”
On players going to the NFL and then back to college: “I’m staying out of that, I have no comment, I don’t even know what to do with that. Well, look, from our perspective, it’s crazy because you give the guy an opportunity and you’re like, ‘Hey man, this guy’s got room to grow and is he going to make it, is he not? It’s close.’ And then they leave. You try to develop a guy that just took off, I don’t know. But you put yourself in their shoes, I can kind of see that too. If I’m that guy, that player, and I don’t think I’m going to make it, I don’t know, man. It’s crazy, it’s unbelievable.”
On how he would have played if he went back to college: “I can’t run anyway, it wouldn’t have changed anything for me.”
