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Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell is sitting out of Organized Team Activities (OTAs) due to a recent hip procedure.Campbell participated in walk-through sessions but missed position and team drills.Several other key players are also absent from OTAs due to injuries or contract disputes.
Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell is not taking part in organized team activities this spring after undergoing what he called a “little” hip procedure this offseason.Campbell sat out position and team drills at the Lions’ third OTAs of the spring, but said he is taking part in “every walk-through session that I can be in.”
“If I could, I’d be out there and I’m out there trying to do all I can do,” Campbell said.
The Lions are without their top four linebackers this spring because of injuries or contractual situations as they install a new defense under first-year coordinator Kelvin Sheppard.
Alex Anzalone is unhappy with his current contract and not taking part in voluntary OTAs, and Campbell, Derrick Barnes and Malcolm Rodriguez are recovering from injuries.
Barnes missed most of last season with a torn MCL and PCL in his right knee, while Rodriguez could miss the start of the season with a torn ACL.
Campbell, who led the Lions with a career-high 131 tackles last season, manned his regular middle linebacker spot with the first-team defense for part of walk-through and watched the rest of the practice from the sideline.
Grant Stuard, Zack Cunningham, Zeke Turner and Trevor Nowaske were among the linebackers who rotated with the first-team defense during team drills.
Campbell called his hip “all good” and said he has stayed in contact with Anzalone this offseason.
Anzalone is entering the final year of his contract and due to make a below-market $6 million in base salary this fall, with another $100,000 available in per-game roster bonuses.
“I’ve talked to Alex, he’s doing really good,” Campbell said. “I got a lot of respect for him and everything that he’s about. Obviously, he’s not here right now, but I mean it’s totally up between him and everyone in the Lions organization. He’s done a lot of great things for us, he’s a team captain, I can’t say enough good things about him. So that’s between him and the Lions. And it’s none of my business and I got everyone’s back and everything up from Alex to the organization. There’s no bad blood between nobody.”
Lions coach Dan Campbell downplayed the absence of Anzalone and Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow from OTAs.
Ragnow also is unhappy with the extension he signed in 2021 that made him the highest-paid center in the NFL. He has two years left on his deal and is due to make $9.15 million this fall.
“I think what’s great is that any player that I talk to, like I have a relationship with, and there’s an open line of communication,” Dan Campbell said. “So whatever I say to those players, I’m not going to say to you guys. I never will. But there is, communication has been great, so I’m not – listen, I’m not worried about anything. I know this, we’re in late May. Is it even June yet? … We’re not even in June, so life’s good. We’re going to be just fine.”
Dave Birkett is the author of the book, “Detroit Lions: An Illustrated Timeline.” Order your copy here. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.