As we start getting excited for the Detroit Lions’ 2026 opener vs the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, we have a couple Dan Campbell press conferences to review before the Lions’ first official practice injury report comes out on Wednesday.
Here are some quotes from Dan Campbell’s press conferences on Monday (September 7) and Tuesday (September 8), along with my read-between-the-lines analysis.
Thomas Harper ankle injury recovery
Harper’s going to be running around out there [Monday]. We anticipate he’ll be ready to go.
Harper had an ankle injury in practice around August 20. It’s good to hear that the injury was minor and he’ll be ready for Week 1. A simple low-ankle sprain would fit the timeline.
The Lions are starting Chuck Clark and Avonte Maddox at safety, but there isn’t much depth beyond them, with Christian Izien presumed out this week with an unspecified injury and Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph on the reserve/PUP list.
Aidan Hutchinson 2024 tib/fib fracture recovery
Last year, what he was able to do coming off the injury he had was impressive. That’s a significant injury.
The good news is it was a bone.
That’s not like the fibula, the small bone on the ankle.
He got another year of a full offseason, training. He’s prepped to have another big year.
When Dan Campbell says it was good news that “it was a bone”, he means that it’s good news there was no joint or cartilage involvement for Hutchinson. Bones generally heal very well and can heal back up to 100% - even with a major bone like the tibia. Joints and cartilage have a far less certain recovery.
Campbell is a bit dismissive of a fibula fracture. I would agree that an isolated fibula fracture - what likely happened last season with Christian Mahogany who returned in seven weeks - is not a big deal.
However, if the fibula fracture is associated with a significant ankle injury - like what happened in 2023 with James Houston who was out for 4 months - then it can be more worrisome long-term than a tib/fib.
I agree with Campbell that the injury to Hutch is well behind him and he is poised for a monster year.
Left guard competition - Christian Mahogany vs Ben Bartch
Today, they’re going to split. I see them splitting on Thursday. I see them splitting on Friday. If nothing’s been decided by then, then maybe they both play.
This was an interesting update on the left guard position. Up until now, I had presumed that Mahogany was pretty secure as the starter. I didn’t expect Bartch to be in contention given his slow recovery from last year’s Lisfranc surgery as well as his recent concussion.
The fact that Bartch is a strong contender to start despite missing much of training camp is either really impressive news for Bartch, or somewhat disappointing news for Mahogany. Long-term, it would be best if Mahogany wins the job as he is three years younger than Bartch, and is signed beyond this season.
Kerby Joseph location update
He’s here. He’s doing good. He’s ramping up.
Given his terse response, Campbell is obviously tired of giving updates regarding Kerby. Though there’s probably not much for Campbell to report anyway.
This latest update suggests that Joseph is back in the facility and doing his rehab. “Ramping up” doesn’t have much meaning here as Joseph has been in this stage for months already. The next big test is whether he can get through a practice without the knee flaring up. Currently, he’s on PUP and can’t open his 21-day practice window until after Game 2.