The Detroit Lions are still processing the frightening moment Jack Campbell collapsed on the Ford Field turf with a neck injury. His teammates watched as he lay still, many of them in tears. Four days later, though, Campbell’s update that he had movement in his lower body has brought a new focus: how the team can move forward.
The prayers haven’t stopped, but the grief is beginning to give way to something else — inspiration.
Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard said it would be unrealistic to expect players to simply forget what happened, especially given Campbell’s character and importance to the team. Instead, he has asked them to prepare and play each day as if they were doing it for Campbell, whose jersey number is 46.
Sheppard said that mindset was behind a fourth-down blitz he called late in Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings, an unusual choice for the Lions. He told the players they were making the call for 46.
That message has carried into the week. Sheppard said the team has been asked to consider what Campbell would expect from them. In his view, Campbell wouldn’t want his teammates to dwell on the injury or feel sorry for themselves. The best way to honor him, Sheppard told the defense, is to prepare and play with the same commitment Campbell brings.
Sheppard acknowledged how deeply the players were affected as Campbell was immobilized and taken from the field. Still, the season goes on, and he is urging the defense to face what happened, then find a way to turn it into motivation.
