Dan Campbell Updates: Jimmy Rolder, Derrick Moore, Miles Kitselman
How much of a concern is Rolder's hamstring?
Dan Campbell offered updates on a few injuries in his press conference on August 3, 2026. Unfortunately, there have already been multiple injuries in camp for the Lions… and they haven’t even put on pads yet. The Lions start 4 days of pads this week.
Here is my read-between-the-lines analysis of some select Dan Campbell quotes.
🟢Good news, low concern
🟡Uncertain or moderate concern
🔴Bad news, high concern
🔴Jimmy Rolder, LB
July 31, 2026: Hamstring, suspected grade 2-3
Projected return: October
Rolder will be out for a while, got a hamstring.
It’s not a season-ender.
This must be a fairly severe hamstring strain to keep this 4th-round rookie out for likely well over a month. Jeff Risdon reported that Rolder is not expected back for the start of the season, which is 6 weeks away.
The good news is it’s not a season-ender. That means he does not need surgery, which would have carried a 6-12 month recovery and definitely ended his season.
Hamstrings have 3 grades with grade 3 being a complete tear or major disruption. Not all grade 3 hamstrings need surgery. I suspect Rolder has a grade 2-3 hamstring similar to DJ Reed’s suspected grade 2-3 last year. Here is Reed’s injury video…
September 28, 2025
Reed returned to play on November 23 - about a 2-month recovery. But he didn’t quite return to form for the rest of the season. Thus, there is a concern that Rolder’s hamstring could have lingering effects on his entire rookie year.
🟡Derrick Moore, EDGE
August 2, 2026: Groin
Projected return: Mid-August
We’re hoping about 7-10 days. Kind of a minor strain which is good news.
This is not bad news on this 2nd-round rookie. Moore will miss some time which is unfortunate, but should be back to full strength soon. An aggravation is possible, so that will be something to monitor the rest of camp.
It could have been worse. For example, Sione Vaki missed over a month last season with his groin injury.
🟢Blake Miller, OT
August 2, 2026: Unspecified
He’ll roll today. We don’t anticipate any issues. He wanted to do more, we kind of held him back.
No details on Miller’s injury from last practice, but it’s nothing serious.
🔴Miles Kitselman, TE
August 2, 2026: Leg
Kitselman will be out for a while.
Dan Campbell was ominously curt with Kitselman’s update. There was no reassurance that he’ll be back this season like we heard earlier with Rolder. Kitselman’s medical report shows a pec surgery and possible knee injury in 2025 - with a 4/10 medical concern level as a UDFA.
The Lions TE group already has significant medical concerns with Sam LaPorta’s microdiscectomy recovery and Tyler Conklin’s calf strain. Kitselman had an opening to be a UDFA surprise, so this injury is unfortunate.
Enough with the injury updates. To lighten the mood, here are some recent tweet updates on 2 of our favorite healthy defensive tackles…
For those who missed it, this is in reference to the Detroit Lions social media team post…
Couvade syndrome is where the non-pregnant partner experiences pregnancy signs like weight gain, fatigue, body aches, irritability, and more. Could the Chiefs make history by being the first NFL team to list Couvade on their official injury report this season?