LIONS HEAD COACH DAN CAMPBELL QUOTE SHEET
October 1, 2025
Opening Statement: “So, we’re starting (Lions DL Alim McNeill) Mac’s clock today. I think he’s a little nervous, so. He’s ready to go, like I said. I’m sorry for some of those guys who are going to have to line up across from him. So, he’s ready to go, he’s ready to start practicing. So, that’s good. Talking about these guys, they’re 2-2, very much in this division race, looking for a win. I’ve known (Bengals Head Coach) Zac (Taylor) a long time, coached with Zac. What he’s done out there has been pretty amazing and they’ve built something pretty special over there. So, they’ve got good players – (Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase) 1 and (Bengals WR Tee Higgins) 5 are good, this (Bengals QB Jake Browning) quarterback’s capable. The (Bengals HB Chase Brown) back, he’s explosive, he finds a crease, he can take it. I think (Bengals WR Charlie Jones) 15’s a crafty returner. Defensively, I’ve always loved (Bengals DT T.J.) Slaton (Jr.) up there in the middle, (Bengals DT B.J.) Hill long-time steady, reliable, hard-nosed. Certainly (Bengals DE Trey) Hendrickson on the edge, (Bengals LB) 55 Logan (Wilson) – seen it all, done it all, run and hit. So yeah, they’ve got some good guys, man. I think their (Bengals CB Dax Hill) nickel’s a good player too. They’ve got some dudes, so we’ve got to be ready to go out at their place, but we’re looking forward to it.”
On the growth he has seen from Lions T Penei Sewell since last year and what upside he still has left in him: “He’s – I mean I don’t know if you can say enough great things about Sewell. I just think that he continues to do things that are rare, they’re rare. His athletic ability, his ability to bend, the explosiveness, the tenacity, the FBI – the football intelligence. And I think that is where he’s really taken it to another level because I think he’s – every year he learns something new about the game and he learns about himself inside of this game and what he’s capable of. And I still believe he just scratched the surface of where he can go. I think the guy is – he’s special. But I go back to this, yeah he’s got ability – God gave him some rare ability and size and length and all that – this guy busts his tail, he works. He works. Every day in practice, he works his craft. He doesn’t take plays off and it’s no wonder he’s become the player that he has.”
On how impressed he was with Lions T Taylor Decker’s performance while battling injury: “I’m always impressed. Decker’s been laying it on the line for us, and we know he’s not 100 percent, and so it’s taken everything to get him back to those games ready to compete. And that’s been big. And so what he’s been able to do over the four weeks, it’s been impressive. And we’re fortunate that he was there for us to help us out. So, I think he’s been playing good football and it’s just about getting him back, trying to get his body back.”
On what he has seen from Lions DL Tyler Lacy in practice that made him seem to be a fit at the edge position and what he has liked about his performance there: “Well, number one, he plays hard and that showed up on that tape. He’s got length and he sets edges – like you can see him, he plays big. He plays big, he plays stout, he plays strong and then there’s enough in there when you see him catch an edge, he can push the pocket and that’s exactly what we’re looking for. So, we saw those – what I just said – and then we see versatility. Like we think he can play some of this big end too. And yeah, he played more nose, some three-technique, but we’re like, ‘Man, this guy can play big end. He’s a good enough athlete to do that.’ And so, that’s where we’ve kind of used him a little bit in that regard. But we do think he’s got versatility.”
On how much credit for the team’s three-game streak without a sack allowed goes to Lions QB Jared Goff and growth in his pocket presence: “Look, it’s always going to start with the O-line. I’m going to start there. The way those guys work together. We talked about our two tackles and how they all work in unison. (Lions OL) Graham (Glasgow) sometimes turning the protection away if all things being equal and then we get a slide one way, so you’re helping the center which helps the guard, which the guard helps the tackle, those things. So those guys are working together really well. Number two, Goff has been outstanding in the pocket. He’s been really good. His pocket presence when he’s chosen to step up, he’s chosen to move, it’s been right on and that helps big time. Number three, our receivers are getting open with speed, they’re playing with urgency into the pass game – we talked about that last week. Those guys have to outrun the rush. And so, when you do all three of those things, that’s – good things happen.”
On the value of Lions QB Jared Goff’s durability: “Listen, durability, availability is always the greatest asset that you have as a player because with that is the consistency – you know they’re going to be there. Now, we’re fortunate too – look, Goff’s a tough player. He’s taken some hits and he’s been able to get back up and move on. He doesn’t get frazzled by stuff and he is tough. But, those things – look, we’re fortunate. We’re fortunate. And so that’s why we’ve got to keep this guy on both his feet there. I mean that’s just, that is what it is.”
On how Cincinnati’s offense looks different without Bengals QB Joe Burrow: “Well, they’re doing the same things. They’re really, I would say, proceeding the same way, for the most part. Maybe some quicker throws, things of that nature, but there’s a lot of – this team throws it a lot and primo looks, they’ll run it. But I don’t feel like it’s that different. We know these two receivers (Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase and Bengals WR Tee Higgins) are really good and they’re looking for those matchups. They feel like they can get a one-on-one, that’s where the ball’s going and why wouldn’t it. So, we’re going to have to do a good job of disrupting those guys as much as we can and try to limit what they can do over there. But also, not let this guy tear us up in the run game either. So, I don’t feel like it’s something different though.”
On what his thoughts were when he started seeing Lions EDGE Aidan Hutchinson carrying his water jug: “Yeah, I don’t know. I mean everybody I used to know used to carry a water jug, so I guess there is – it feels a little old school. And I don’t know what’s in there. Mine used to be tap water, so I’m sure his is a lot more purified. But, yeah there’s things – I’ll tell you this, he takes care of his body and that is a priority for him. And that’s important because that’s how you make a living and that’s how you’re able to have the production you are because it’s coming from that, that’s your engine. So, he does a great job with that.”
On if there is a timeline for Lions EDGE Josh Paschal’s return to the field: “No. I would say same thing as I said whenever that was a week or two ago. He’s improving, but he’s not ready yet.”
On if he has noticed anything different about Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown’s game this season and what makes him one of the best receivers in the League: “I don’t see anything different. I know what this player is. I’m well aware of what he is and what he’s capable of. And so – like to me, he’s been doing this for really four-and-a-half years. Once he figured it out halfway through ’21, I mean he’s just been (rocket motion) – and it’s just there. I mean, nobody’s as consistent as he’s been. There may be some that are close – certainly there’s good receivers in this League, I’m not saying that – but this guy is day in, day out, game in, game out. The production is always there and what makes him different is this (mind and heart). It’s this and it’s this and it’s he’s got that will to win. You’re going to will things to go your way, but it’s not just lip service, it’s the work. He knows, like that’s important to him. The work that you put in to prepare is important for him. He wants it hard out there because that does, it makes it easy, that’s how he views it. It makes it easy on Sundays or a hell of a lot easier. But that’s him. In criticals, there is not one doubt in his mind he’s not going to win. He will win and he will do everything in his power to find a way to win a rep and will the game into our favor. That’s the difference, I mean it is. And you’d love to say everybody’s that way, they’re not all that way. Some really great players, but they’re not all that way.”
On the value of having man cover cornerbacks in the defense and the trickle-down effect it has on the safeties and defensive line: “Well, when you’re able to play sticky on the backend – we kind of mentioned this – the coverage and rush goes hand-in-hand. The stickier you play, you buy yourself a tick to be able to get to the quarterback. He may have to hold it, he’s got to make a perfect throw, lot of times what happens is that’s a sack or it’s a sack-fumble, or it’s a tipped ball or it’s an ill-advised throw that turns into a takeaway. And now all of a sudden, you start getting takeaways, now the next guy believes he’s going to get a takeaway and well that means we need to play even stickier. And there’s this pride that begins to build and it’s – you believe that’s the way you’re meant to play the game. There’s an aggressive nature to it and it’s nothing comes easy and that’s a style we want to play with. Nothing comes easy if you play against our defense and that’s what we want.”
On if he uses visuals or messaging for a game like Bill Parcells once did to avoid falling into a trap game: “No, it’s just like we said last week, we’ve got our standards and we don’t sacrifice those for anybody or anything. So, sacrifice and identity, that’s what it’s about. We’ve got to go to work, we’ve got to put in a good day’s work – three good days here, base, third down, red zone – to make sure we’re ready to go out there in Cincinnati. We do that, then we’ll be ready.”
On if he expected Lions Assistant Head Coach/Wide Receivers Scottie Montgomery to bring the impact and perspective of Lions RB David Montgomery and Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs to help the receivers with blocking: “I knew this would be great for our team. It would be great for our team, it was going to be great for our offense and it was going to be great for the receivers. And because he understands the pass game very well, he knows those guys in that room, but he also does have that perspective of the run game and, ‘Look, these are what the backs are looking at, this is what the O-line’s thinking here, this is why. Yes, that’s who you’ve got, but this is how you should block him.’ Or where you want him to go or where we think this run might go, so now you need to be thinking, ‘Go back here once it breaks out.’ So those are – that’s icing on the cake because he does have that perspective. But, Scottie understands this game very well, top to bottom – pass game, protection, run game. He’s a huge asset for us and for me.”
LIONS QB JARED GOFF QUOTE SHEET
October 1, 2025
On the biggest difference offensively preparing for a game on a short week like the Bengals are: “With the one day less, it’s not that big, I guess. The Thursday games are a different story. But, one day less, yeah. It’s a bit harder, you get a little bit behind, you have to spend a little bit more time here. But it’s not as big of a deal as I would say a real short week.”
On how he maintains his health and on Bengals QB Joe Burrow’s health situation: “I try to do my best to take care of myself in the offseason and do all of that stuff. A lot of it’s out of your control to some extent. I’ve been lucky to have really good protection around and keeping me upright and all that stuff. I can’t speak to Joe’s situation, I think he’s a hell of a player but hope he’s back soon.”
On how good Lions T Taylor Decker has been playing despite playing through injury: “He’s been so dang good man, he really has. Him battling through what he’s been dealing with has been awesome to watch him go through. Not awesome to see him go through it, but awesome to see him fight through it, I guess. He’s been doing great. He’s been playing well, and he’s been doing good.”
On his offensive weapons and how they have grown in the years they have been playing together: “I think (Lions Offensive Coordinator John Morton) Johnny gives a lot of us a lot of input on how we want to do things and how we see things. And certainly, he’s coming up with all the plays since Sunday until this morning. But then we get out there on the grass and something feels a little bit different, maybe we should do this split, maybe we should take this amount of steps. Sure, he listens to all of it and all these guys have a little bit of input here and there on how they want to do things, and it’s nice to have coaches who listen.”
On the complementary football between him and the offensive line: “Yeah, they’ve been awesome. They’ve really done a good job. In particular, this past week with that front, it’s really hard. Yeah, I’ve done my best to get the ball out and try to stay upright. I think that helps them and they help me, and it’s a good thing going right now.”
On how he thinks his mobility has grown in the pocket: “It’s something I work on. I don’t know if it’s better now than it was in the past, but it’s something I work on and try to be aware of. I think it’s just like anything else, something you try to get better at in the offseason and through training camp when you get some real live bullets out there. This year, I’ve done a pretty good job of it, but it starts when you – I could answer this question really long, but when you don’t have a lot of pressure, it’s easy to feel when there is one pressure. As opposed to when there’s always pressure, it’s hard to feel when it’s actually and when it isn’t. That’s when you see a lot of guys scrambling when they don’t need to. I think when our O-line has been as good as they’ve been, when one guy does get edged, it’s easy to feel that and for me to move. And that makes it a whole lot easier for a quarterback.”
On seeing Lions DL Alim McNeill back at practice and what he means to the team: “Yeah, he’s a hell of a player and a hell of a teammate and leader. Can do a whole bunch of different stuff on our D-line. I know he can line up kind of anywhere, stops the run, stops the pass. I know he gives our O-line fits whenever he’s out there. So yeah, I’d be happy to have him out there this week and see what he can do.”
On playing more games as a Lion than as a Ram and the journey he has been on throughout his career: “That was cool, I heard that when I did my radio thing earlier this week. I was like, ‘Oh wow, that’s cool.’ I knew that was coming up. But yeah, I’ve certainly become a Lion now in my career. When I look back on it, it’s going to be majority Lions. Hopefully a lot more majority as we go on. But yeah, it’s been a fun journey here, it’s been fun to grow into and to be a part of this city. And to now I guess flip the scale in that way is cool.”
On how much he believes he has left in his career: “That’s a big question right now. I’m in Week 5. Hopefully a long time, I don’t know. Yeah, hard to answer. I think a long time.”
On how he plans to iron out the communication between himself and Lions WR Jameson Williams going forward: “Yeah, I don’t think that was poor communication. I think I missed it a little bit outside. And I think if he was able to come up with that, it would have been him kind of saving my ass to some extent making that play. And it’s one I know he would love to make, and I love him to make, and he can make that catch. It’s a hard catch, though, it’s a really hard catch. But yeah, I think it’s more so me putting the ball where I want to a little bit more inside on him, making that catch a little bit easier and I’m sure he can come up with it.”
On the impact Lions Assistant Head Coach/Wide Receivers Scottie Montgomery has had in his transition from the running backs room to the wide receivers room: “Yeah, I think he’s got a great command in that room and control, and they’ve got such great respect for him. He was a running backs coach for us, but he’s really a football coach. He can kind of coach every position it seems like. Those guys love him, he coaches them hard, he holds them accountable. It’s fun to see.”
On the idea of a ‘trap game’ and if being the favorites to win a game is a reminder to never look down on a team: “I think these guys are not even close to being a bad team, to be a trap team. I think they’re a really dang good team. Certainly, on defense they present some challenges for us on offense that we have to handle. I haven’t watched their offensive tape but I’m sure there’s some things out there. I know they’ve got two hell of a receivers that they can throw the ball to, so by no means. And I think to answer your question further, we’ve been doubted before that maybe they’re feeling. So, I know exactly where they may be feeling. And yeah no, there’s no way we could take them lightly in any way.”
On what he believes makes Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown such a good player: “What makes him so good? Oh man, how long you got? Gosh, I feel like I talk about him every week, but. He’s smart, he’s tough, he’s physical, he can catch, he’s a leader. He blocks, he can run routes really well. He does everything well. He does everything well. He’s strong, he’s physical at the catch point, did I say he’s smart? He kind of does a little bit of everything really well. He’s a quarterback’s dream to throw to and works tremendously hard, sets the tempo for us on offense, at practice, and does everything right. He’s everything you want in a receiver, a teammate, and a leader. I love playing with him.”
On his concerns for the Bengals’ secondary: “Yeah, they’ve got good players. They have young, good players all over the place and could give us issues in a ton of different places. I think they benefit when (Bengals DE Trey) Hendrickson is going and getting home, so we have to handle him. If we do that, it’s easier to throw the ball certainly down the field, but we’ll see. If he’s going, we may have to get the ball out. Those guys can make plays in certain situations, and you’ve got to be careful.”
