8 key takeaways: Detroit Lions HC Dan Campbell talks injuries, rookie standouts, preseason progress

DETROIT – Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell confirmed that safety Morice Norris is back with the team and doing well, though he remains in concussion protocol.

Campbell said the team will take it slow with Norris, monitoring him carefully over the next 10 to 14 days before reassessing his progress.

“Obviously, Mo’s back with us. He’s doing well. It’s good to have him back. He’s good. So obviously, he’s in concussion protocol. We’re going to take it nice and easy here. Make sure you know that he’s good over the next 10 to 14 days and reassess. So, that’s good news.”

--> Detroit Lions HC Dan Campbell gives update on Morice Norris 3 days after safety left game in ambulance

Bounce back game vs. Falcons

“I thought overall we played better the other night,” Campbell said. “Our fundamentals were better. Our tackling was better. We took better care of the ball than week one, but we’ve got a ways to go. We had no takeaways, which is something we need to improve.”

Defensively, Campbell praised the team’s run defense and sudden change defense, calling it “awesome again.” He also noted improvement on third and fourth downs on both sides of the ball.

Rookie performances

Campbell addressed the performance of new players Tyleik Williams and Tate Ratledge in their first real game action, calling them “solid” and a good foundation to build on.

Player injuries

Regarding injuries, Campbell provided an update on several players.

Justin Herron and Colby Sorsdal remain out, and Trystan Colon is sidelined with an elbow injury.

However, Dan Skipper is expected to return in a limited role, and Jamarco Jones and Taylor Decker will receive some practice reps.

The Lions also welcomed back three players recovering from injuries.

“We’ve got to be careful with the guys who are new and not fully up to speed on our verbiage,” Campbell said. “We dial it back so they can line up and play until they get up to speed. But we can’t let it slow down the rest of the roster.”

Running clock vs. Atlanta

Campbell explained the decision to let about eight minutes run off the clock during a recent game, stating that he and Morris had agreed on the move after consulting with league officials.

On the emotional impact of Norris’ injury, Campbell said, “It was great to see him. That’s a breath of fresh air. It’s hard when something like that happens and you don’t know. We’ve all seen guys with concussions, but this was different. It’s tough to block it out.”

Quarterback battle

Campbell praised backup quarterback Kyle Allen for his performance stepping in during the game.

“Kyle played really well. He ran the offense at a high level and made big throws. I was fired up,” Campbell said.

Campbell also explained why starter Hendon Hooker was pulled in the first half, citing turnovers and the need for better ball security.

Wide receiver play

Wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa also received praise for his improvement and contributions, including a touchdown and key blocks. “He’s been trending the right way since we put pads on. He’s growing, and Scotty’s doing a great job with him.”

Campbell discussed the value of adding players from spring leagues like the UFL, noting that those players come in with recent game tape and are in football shape.

He highlighted wide receiver Nick Whiteside as an example of a player who has impressed with his competitiveness and quick adaptation.

Joint practices

Looking ahead, Campbell talked about upcoming joint practices with another team.

“We like doing two joint weeks if we can. It’ll be good for our guys to face a talented roster with a tough defense and creative offense,” Campbell said.

Back-to-back home game

On the preseason schedule, Campbell explained the choice to have back-to-back home games in weeks two and three instead of week one.

“We wanted to see if we could get two home games back-to-back at the end instead of early. We put in the requests, and that’s how it played out.”