\u201cIf I could, I’d be out there and I’m out there trying to do all I can do,\u201d Campbell said.<\/p>\n
DAVE BIRKETT’S OBSERVATIONS: Aidan Hutchinson looks like Aidan Hutchinson of old<\/a><\/p>\nThe 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.<\/p>\n
Alex Anzalone is unhappy with his current contract<\/a> and not taking part in voluntary OTAs, and Campbell, Derrick Barnes and Malcolm Rodriguez are recovering from injuries.<\/p>\nBarnes missed most of last season with a torn MCL and PCL<\/a> in his right knee, while Rodriguez could miss the start of the season with a torn ACL.<\/a><\/p>\nCampbell, 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.<\/p>\n
Grant Stuard, Zack Cunningham, Zeke Turner and Trevor Nowaske were among the linebackers who rotated with the first-team defense during team drills.<\/p>\n
SCHEDULE TALK: Dan Campbell: 2025 plan is ‘the right kind of brutal’<\/a><\/p>\nCampbell called his hip \u201call good\u201d and said he has stayed in contact with Anzalone this offseason.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI’ve talked to Alex, he’s doing really good,\u201d Campbell said. \u201cI 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.”<\/p>\n
Lions coach Dan Campbell downplayed the absence of Anzalone and Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow from OTAs.<\/p>\n
Ragnow also is unhappy with the extension he signed in 2021<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n“I think what\u2019s great is that any player that I talk to, like I have a relationship with, and there\u2019s an open line of communication,” Dan Campbell said. “So whatever I say to those players, I\u2019m not going to say to you guys. I never will. But there is, communication has been great, so I\u2019m not – listen, I\u2019m not worried about anything. I know this, we\u2019re in late May. Is it even June yet? … We\u2019re not even in June, so life\u2019s good. We\u2019re going to be just fine.”<\/p>\n
Dave Birkett is the author of the book, “Detroit Lions<\/a>: An Illustrated Timeline.”\u00a0Order your copy\u00a0here<\/a>. Contact him at\u00a0dbirkett@freepress.com<\/a>. Follow him on\u00a0Bluesky<\/a>,\u00a0X\u00a0<\/a>and\u00a0Instagram\u00a0<\/a>at @davebirkett.<\/p>\n
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