Lions Camp Notebook: Dan Campbell Talks Bengals Matchup, Kerby Joseph, Jack Campbell and Roster Competition

ALLEN PARK, Mich. — The Detroit Lions are preparing to take the next step in their preseason evaluation process.

Detroit will travel to Cincinnati to face the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday, August 13, at 7:00 p.m. ET, and Lions head coach Dan Campbell is looking forward to seeing how his players respond when they get another opportunity under the lights.

Campbell met with reporters ahead of the matchup and discussed what he hopes to see Thursday night, while also providing updates on Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch, praising linebacker Jack Campbell, discussing his communication with general manager Brad Holmes, and making a strong statement about Detroit’s wide receiver room.

Campbell excited to evaluate Lions against Cincinnati

Campbell opened his press conference by saying he’s looking forward to seeing what his players can do Thursday night.

The Lions believe Cincinnati could play some of its starters early in the game, which could give Detroit’s younger players an opportunity to compete against established NFL talent.

Campbell is particularly interested in seeing the continued development of the team’s rookies, along with veterans who are still competing to secure a spot on the final roster.

Training camp practices allow coaches to evaluate technique, execution and consistency, but preseason games introduce another element. Players must execute against an unfamiliar opponent and show they can translate what they’ve done in Allen Park into live game situations.

For several Lions, Thursday night could represent another important opportunity to make their case.

Kerby Joseph away from team, but rehab remains on track

Campbell also provided an update on Kerby Joseph, who is currently away from the Lions while dealing with a personal matter.

Campbell did not elaborate on Joseph’s situation but said he likes where the safety is in his rehabilitation process.

Detroit continues targeting an early-season return for both Joseph and Brian Branch as the two safeties work their way back.

Their health remains one of the biggest storylines surrounding Detroit’s defense. Joseph and Branch have become two of the most important pieces of the Lions’ secondary, and getting both back on the field would provide a major boost to the defense.

For now, Detroit appears willing to remain patient rather than rush either player back during the preseason.

Jack Campbell has become the “quarterback of the defense”

When asked about Jack Campbell and the confidence he’s displaying following a Pro Bowl season, Dan Campbell made it clear how highly the organization views its linebacker.

He described Jack as the “quarterback of the defense.”

Campbell said when Jack speaks, everyone listens.

That’s significant praise for a player who has steadily grown into a leadership role since Detroit selected him in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

His development has gone beyond his production on the field. Jack Campbell has become a player teammates look toward for communication and leadership, placing him at the center of what Detroit wants to accomplish defensively this season.

Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes constantly comparing notes

With the preseason underway and roster decisions approaching, Campbell was also asked how much he communicates with general manager Brad Holmes about player evaluations.

The answer: frequently.

Campbell explained that he and Holmes regularly discuss players and individual moments they’ve noticed during practices, sometimes asking one another whether they caught a particular play or performance.

However, Detroit isn’t ready to make its final evaluations yet.

Campbell said the organization wants to get through the preseason before taking a deeper look at the roster and determining which players have earned their place on the team.

That makes every remaining preseason opportunity important, particularly for players competing near the bottom of the depth chart.

Campbell calls this his best Lions receiver room

One of Campbell’s strongest statements of the press conference came when the conversation turned to Detroit’s wide receivers.

Campbell called this the best receiver room he’s had since becoming head coach of the Lions.

Rather than pointing to one player, Campbell praised the depth of the entire group. He said the receivers have all flashed at different points during camp, with each bringing something a little different to Detroit’s offense.

That’s encouraging for the offense, but it could make the eventual roster decisions increasingly difficult.

A deep receiver competition means every route, catch, block and special-teams opportunity during the preseason could factor into Detroit’s final decisions.

Thursday night provides the next chance for those receivers to separate themselves.

All eyes turn to Thursday night

Detroit’s matchup against Cincinnati represents much more than another preseason game.

For established players, it’s another step toward preparing for the regular season. For rookies and young players, it’s an opportunity to demonstrate their development. And for veterans fighting for roster spots, every snap could potentially influence whether they’re still with Detroit when the roster is trimmed to 53 players.

Campbell and Holmes have been evaluating the roster throughout training camp, but the next few preseason games will give them some of their most important information yet.

Meanwhile, Detroit continues to monitor the recovery of Joseph and Branch, Jack Campbell continues emerging as the voice of the defense, and competition inside what Campbell believes is his best receiver room yet continues to heat up.

The Lions and Bengals kick off Thursday, August 13, at 7:00 p.m. ET in Cincinnati.

MCSN will continue providing Detroit Lions coverage throughout training camp and the preseason.