If you’re wondering whether the Detroit Lions are going to play all of their starter in a “meaningless” Week 18 game against the Chicago Bears, coach Dan Campbell gave a resounding… maybe?
Unsurprisingly, Campbell mentioned that the game can say a lot about a team’s set of players, and it’s the standard in Detroit to give it all they’ve got every time they take the field.
“You can always find a lot out with one to go,” Campbell said. “And, no, we’re not playing for the playoffs, but there’s still things we can find out, and I expect the guys that we have here to give it what they’ve got one more time. That’s the expectation.”
To that end, it certainly seems like the Lions plan on playing most of their starters.
But when it comes to players who have been battling injuries all year—or those who may have suffered recent ones—Campbell was a little more elusive in his answers. He admitted, first of all, that they’re pretty beat up right now.
“The injury report is—we’re pretty riddled right now. So, I don’t know. We’ll find more out here in the next day or two. I mean, if they can play, we’re playing,” Campbell said.
One of those players is star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, who appeared to aggravate a knee injury he’s been battling. Campbell noted the knee is “part of” the injury, and offered a long-term positive update.
“I think long-term, he’s going to be okay, which is good news,” Campbell said.
Obviously, that makes it sound like the veteran receiver won’t go against the Bears, but when pushed about his availability this week, Campbell was a little more open to it.
“Day-to-day,” Campbell said. “Day-to-day. He wants to go, and he’ll be day-to-day. He’s improved.”
Campbell was then asked if a “questionable” designation is treated a little differently this week because of the low stakes of the game, and the Lions head coach admitted that it does.
“Yeah, I think so. I think if we’re sitting there borderline and the player—it could be hard, or we think they’re setting themselves up for a long-term risk, then no, it’s not worth it. But if it’s: the stuff doesn’t feel good, and it’s bumps and bruises—then, no. It’s like the next game up.”
To that end, it certainly sounds like the Lions will be a little more conservative with players who are 50/50 in playing, and they won’t mess with players who are at risk of making an injury worse. But at the same time, it sounds like if a player is “hurt” and not “injured,” the expectation is to play.
There’s one more roster decision that some fans have been clamoring for: use this last opportunity to get a look at some young players. Campbell was pretty clear that isn’t in the plans, unless those young players happen to be next on the depth chart for an injured player.
“If guys can’t go because of injury, then the next guy up will go, young or old—young or veteran—next guy available,” Campbell said.
And if you were wondering if rookie guard Tate Ratledge could play center in the season finale, Campbell shut that down in a hurry. While he said that is “not off the table” for Ratledge’s future in 2026 and beyond, it won’t happen this Sunday against the Bears.
“I don’t see that (happening),” Campbell said.
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