Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell needing to go to the hospital after a hit in Week 8 on Sunday was a reminder of how dangerous football can be. The NFL has done what it can to make the game safer, but football is inherently violent.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell echoed that sentiment Monday.
After answering several questions on the linebacker during his weekly press conference Monday, Campbell received a question on Lions defensive back Brian Branch’s playing style. Branch has a physical reputation that rival fans have sometimes characterized as crossing the line.
On Sunday, the Lions lost Branch to a concussion he sustained on a play where he lowered his head to deliver a hit.
But even in the aftermath of Jack Campbell’s hit and Branch’s head injury, the Lions head coach didn’t call for sweeping changes to the safety’s style of play.
“Certainly keep your eyes up. A lot of it, once he’s going, he’s going for his target and then that target drops. And so, that ends up where it goes,” Dan Campbell told reporters. “You can certainly say go lower, but now you have got to be careful. You start going real low, then you start taking out knees and stuff and you don’t want any of that. So, just keep your eyes up, see what you hit, try to drop it just a little bit.
“But listen, this is a violent game, man. There’s no way around it. Any way you cut it, it just is, and it’s what we signed up for. And that’s hard, but it is what has been signed up for, anybody that plays this game. Anyway, it’s tough.”
Dan Campbell Addresses Brian Branch Concussion
The Lions head coach told reporters Monday that Branch and defensive end D.J. Wonnum are both in the concussion protocol entering Week 9. The two defenders each suffered head injuries when they collided with one other on the same play versus the Minnesota Vikings.
On the play, Branch was trying to deliver a hit on Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson. However, Jefferson was able to slide under the hit. Instead of contacting Jefferson, Branch knocked into Wonnum’s helmet.
Branch received criticism for the blow on social media. Campbell’s answer on the safety’s hit wasn’t necessarily a defense, but a matter-of-fact reply on how difficult it is to play defense safely.
How does a football defender stay safe while bringing the ball carrier down? Based on his answer, the Lions head coach might say you can’t actually do both.
Both Branch and Wonnum will have to clear the NFL’s concussion protocol to play in Week 9. The Lions will visit the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, November 8.
Update on Lions Injured Linebacker Jack Campbell
Before discussing Branch, the Lions head coach provided an update on the team’s injured linebacker.
Campbell spent several minutes discussing the situation but didn’t provide a lot of new details to respect the player’s privacy.
“Your prayers are working. Please continue to do that and we’ll leave it at that,” the head coach said. “So, just continue to pray for him, but it is positive news on Jack.”
Campbell said the linebacker’s family is with him in the hospital. The linebacker has spent each of the past two nights at the hospital since leaving Week 8 on a cart.
The linebacker suffered his injury on the first play of the fourth quarter. Detroit’s medical team removed the linebacker from the field after he was seen not moving for several minutes.
“It’s difficult. So, you don’t ever want to see somebody like that on the field,” said Campbell. “But, when you see Jack, Jack never lays on the field ever, no matter what it is. And that’s when you’re like – like I say, it puts it in perspective.
“It’s hard and it was hard on everybody. It’s hard on the players, man, to see your guy down there like that.”
Lions’ Dan Campbell Speaks out on Brian Branch’s Tackling After Jack Campbell Hit