For what seems like forever, Detroit Lions fans have been calling for more help along the defensive line. The cries grew louder when Marcus Davenport left Sunday’s win over the Chicago Bears with a shoulder injury, casting doubt on his availability for this week’s Monday Night Football clash against the Baltimore Ravens.
But head coach Dan Campbell isn’t panicking. In fact, he’s doubling down.
Campbell Confident in Depth
Appearing on 97.1 The Ticket for his weekly interview, Campbell was asked directly about the Lions’ depth at defensive end if Davenport can’t go. His response was blunt:
“Nothing new there. I mean, I’m probably not going to know till the end of the week,” Campbell said as quoted by Lions OnSI. But as far as depth, we’re good. We’re in a pretty good place here. We made some acquisitions. Brad (Holmes) did, right out of camp, so we’re pretty good depth-wise here. But, we’ll know more at the end of the week.”
Big Picture: Depth Tested Early
Right now, the Lions have just three proven defensive ends on the 53-man roster: Aidan Hutchinson, Marcus Davenport, and Al-Quadin Muhammad. That’s not ideal when facing mobile quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson, who has already thrown six touchdowns and rushed for 83 yards in two games.
Still, Detroit’s identity under Campbell has always been about “next man up.” Whether it’s Muhammad stepping into a bigger role, or younger names like Wheat and Lacy finding their way onto the field, the Lions are sticking to their plan.
Bottom Line
The fanbase may want a splash signing, but the Lions believe they’re good with what they’ve got. If Marcus Davenport misses time, expect Al-Quadin Muhammad to take on a heavier workload, and don’t be surprised if Campbell’s confidence in his depth proves justified.
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