LIONS HEAD COACH DAN CAMPBELL AND LIONS ASSISTANT HEAD COACH/RUNNING BACKS DUCE STALEY QUOTE SHEET

LIONS HEAD COACH DAN CAMPBELL QUOTE SHEET
September 16, 2022
Opening Statement: “I would say, probably (Lions G) Jonah (Jackson) and (Lions C Frank) Ragnow would be probably questionably probable. And then, I’d say (Lions RB D’Andre) Swift and (Lions CB) Amani (Oruwariye) are probably questionable. So, they’re all kind of in the same boat honestly, it’s day-to-day. And then, we’re not going to really know – we’ll know a little bit more today. But I don’t see Frank practicing today, I don’t see Jonah practicing today. But that doesn’t mean that we don’t have hope. So, we’re just – we’re going to have to take this day-to-day.”
On if he expects Lions RB D’Andre Swift to practice today: “We’re going to get him out there, move around a little bit.”
On if he expects Lions CB Amani Oruwariye to practice today: “No, we’re going to keep him in.”
On what happened to Lions G Jonah Jackson and if it was similar to the injury Lions T Taylor Decker was dealing with last year: “Hand. It’s a little different. It’s a little different. It’s not the same. But they’re in both’s hands.”
On if Lions RB D’Andre Swift will practice today: “Yeah, he just – he’s going to go out there today.”
On the expectations he has for Lions LB Julian Okwara coming back from an injury: “Yes, yeah he’s full go and it – we’re looking forward to seeing him get out there and move around. It was – I think we’re going to try and get him going a little bit this week.”
On how injuries to the offensive line affect how they prepare for the game on Sunday: “Yeah, I just think you – it changes what we do a little bit. Just the style at which we need to play and you just – you will have to shift the burden a little bit, other places of the load to other places on our team, which is OK. It’s what we got to do. It’s what we’re charged with.”
On how many of the injuries on the team were game-related or practice-related: “Well, one of them was practice. I guess two of them possibly practice, one of them didn’t even get to practice. So, half and half I guess.”
On who they have left guard given Lions G Jonah Jackson’s injury: “Yeah, we’ll look at (Lions G Drew) Forbes and we’ll look at (Lions G) Kayode (Awosika) who we just got from Philly. So, we’re kind of all hands on deck right now.”
On what he likes about Lions G Kayode Awosika: “He – good athlete, real good athlete. He popped on film and then, out here in practice yesterday it was good to see him moving around. I mean, he’s got good movement skills, has some power. There again, he’s just new to our terminology, is the – that’s kind of the – and he’s young too, he hasn’t really played. But we like the ability, he seems like a pretty sharp guy.”
On the plans they have for the right side of the offensive line: “Yeah, we’re – we’ll find out today. We’re going to mess around with a few things. We mixed a couple things up yesterday, and so we’ll do it again.”
On if they evaluate their processes after sustaining multiple injuries to begin the season: “Yeah, it’s a good question because you can’t help but at least look at it and say, ‘Alright, are we doing something? Do we need to do something different? Is there something that we’re not doing right?’ And we’re looking at everything and there’s nothing that I can think of right now that says we did something that we shouldn’t have been doing. Now, there again we’ll turn over every stone and if we feel like it’s something that I need to change or adjust I’ll certainly do that. But I – I can’t say that there’s anything right now that we’ve done any different. We’re smart with how we train. Anytime a guy’s got back issues, we don’t put a burden on their back. It’s single leg squats, it’s – so, there’s a number of things we try to do. I feel like we’re really good in that area. But certainly, these are popping up.”
On if the players’ injuries are related to physical practices days and if practicing with or without pads makes a difference: “Well, I mean there’s – I made a comment yesterday, I’m like, ‘Man, we’ve had more injuries when we take the pads off, than we have with the pads on.’ It’s unbelievable. I mean, the fingers and the – I mean that was (Lions T Taylor) Decker’s last year too – was we weren’t in pads. But hey listen, it’s a part of football and look everybody gets the bug at different times and we’ve got a little bit of that – the injury bug right now. And I think the good news is we got it early. So, let’s get it knocked out, get it out of the way. We’ve got to find a way to win with what we have, and that’s what we’ve preached from day one. It’s next man up and you’ve got a job to do, and you’ve got a great opportunity. Some guy’s got a great opportunity. I mean, if you play well enough you may not ever look back. You may – that may be your job forever. So, that’s how we have to approach it and nobody cares, we’ve got to win. So, we’ll put our best foot forward.”
On if he is a superstitious person and if he plans to change anything up for the game: “Well, we’re changing our pants on the sideline this weekend, the coaches are. So, yes and no. At times, I am, but we are doing that.”
On what color pants the coaches plan to wear on Sunday against the Commanders: “Grey.”
On how beneficial it is to have a coach like Lions Offensive Line Coach Hank Fraley who can prepare reserve players to start in the wake of injury: “Yeah, it’s a – look, I know Hank’s going to do everything he can to get them ready. He’s done a really nice job and it’s – there again, it’s just a matter of – for a guy like (Lions G) Kayode (Awosika), how fast can we get him up to speed? Then, (Lions G Drew) Forbes has had another week or so in the system, so that’s good. But yeah, I have a lot of faith in those guys, but it’s the combination of, ‘Alright, they haven’t been in our system, and they haven’t really played either.’ But sometimes, look these are the best things that can happen at times. It’s how we figured out about (Lions CB) Jerry (Jacobs) last year, so you just never know.”
On what Lions QB Jared Goff needs to do to get himself comfortable with the offensive line rotation on Sunday: “Yeah, I think – look, that’s on us to get him comfortable and I think (Lions Offensive Coordinator) Ben (Johnson) will do a heck of a job. We’ve got to make sure that I think we keep everything clean early and get this O-line comfortable and everything else will take place, take of itself for Goff.”
On what Washington’s pass rush is like without Commanders DE Chase Young: “Really good. It looks really good. He certainly adds an element there, but without him it still is a very good rush. I mean, I just – I’ve got a lot of respect for (Commanders DT Jonathan) Allen, (Commanders DE Montez) Sweat and (Commanders DT Daron) Payne. They’re explosive and they’re relentless and they’re not selfish. So, they run the games, they run the stunts and it’s a real good front. It’s a real good front.”
On Commanders QB Carson Wentz and if he remembers evaluating him in the Draft process: “Yeah, not – I don’t – I mean, look he’s a guy whose done it for a long time. I mean, he’s a Super Bowl winner, he was on that team, he was responsible – one of the guys responsible for getting them a win. Even though he got hurt, he had already racked up a bunch of wins that season. He’s a resilient guy. You watch him last week, he can hurt you. He gets in a rhythm and he’s a good athlete, he’s got a big arm, and you let him get in a rhythm and he can hurt you.”
On what the team has to do to stop Commanders QB Carson Wentz: “Not let him get in a rhythm. We’ve got to box him in. If we a – we’ve got to try to get some hits on him early and that normally is with any quarterback. That certainly can help a little bit. So, we’ve got to keep him closed in and see if we can get him to feel a little bit of pressure around him.”
On his evaluation of Commanders TE Logan Thomas: “Actually, when I was in Miami we had Logan. He was a quarterback then when I was there. He’s a – man, he’s unbelievable. Super smart, real good athlete, explosive. Look, he doesn’t run like he used to, but he’s still got the big box radius. He knows how to use his body. He can bang around in there. He’s a pretty good blocker, and then there again he plays all these different spots and roles because he’s smart. So, I’ve got a lot of respect for him and he’s an outstanding human being too. So, but good player.”
On if he saw the potential for Commanders TE Logan Thomas to transition to tight end when he coached him in Miami: “We did, but he was not real fired up about making that change then. But, yeah he made it. So yeah, I was on that one a long time ago. He wasn’t having it.” 

LIONS ASSISTANT HEAD COACH/RUNNING BACKS DUCE STALEY QUOTE SHEET
September 16, 2022
On if a running back can avoid injury or if it is based on luck: “It’s tough. It’s tough. This is a violent game we play, and everybody knows that. A lot of that, you’ve got to train a certain type of way. And back then, of course, getting all those carries, the game has changed a little bit, and even with training, it’s changed. But I guess when you asked about the luck part, you’ve got to kind of sprinkle that in because you’ve got to get lucky a little bit. These are violent car wrecks, man. These guys are going 20 and 21 miles per hour, trying to avoid people, so it’s tough. Wish I had it in a bottle, I would sell it.”
On what the running back group can do to prepare for the different offensive line lineups this Sunday due to injuries: “Just do their job, that’s it. And those guys have been doing great in that department, starting back to training camp, just understanding who they have, trusting the O-line will make the right point so they’ll know which way to go. And those guys, they work good together, man. They communicate, which is number one, and we’ve got a lot of confidence in them.”
On him challenging Lions RB D’Andre Swift to play through potential nagging ailments: “Oh, the challenge is still out there.”
On how Lions RB D’Andre Swift is managing his ankle: “I think he’s doing a great job managing it. I think that once again, it kind of goes back to what he has, with all the injuries with running backs and what you’re facing. You know going into the next game, if you’ve got something that’s lingering, you know how to take care of it, and he does. And that’s where he’s gotten better, so I have all confidence in him.”
On the media being adamant Lions RB D’Andre Swift is playing this week: “Oh, you said it? Yeah, I don’t really pay attention to what’s being said or what’s being written, but – and that kid, man, he wants to be out there every down, every down. You see his excitement on the sideline, you get a chance, go pull up a T.V. copy, and when he comes out, it’s not like he’s upset. He’s just feeling it, he’s in the moment, and every day at practice, he’s like that. I know y’all get the calm, cool little model D’Andre, walk around. That’s what I call him, a little model. You get that, but I try to turn it up a little bit, that’s what I – I get a little different approach.”
On if there is more of a mental block or physical block in order to play when enduring nagging injuries: “That’s different. It’s different for everybody. It was – yeah, it’s different. It’s different. It was different for me versus (former Eagles RB Brian) Westbrook. It’s all about the mentality of course, and during that time when I played, I mean I remember one year I had like 320-something carries, so there were certain things that were bothering me, but I had to fight through. And it depends on your role. It depends on your role on the team, and who you are. So, when you start talking about that, that is more specific to the person. And when we’re talking about (Lions RB) D’Andre Swift, I know that he wants to be on the field. I know he wants to go out there and be aggressive and attack every down.”