Sitting atop the NFC North and in second place in the NFC at 6-2, the Lions have gotten off to a great start this season.
Despite their early success, it was time for a break. And coach Dan Campbell says their bye week came at the perfect time.
With the likes of RB David Montgomery (ribs), G Jonah Jackson (ankle) and C Frank Ragnow (calf) all missing out in the Monday Night Football win over the Raiders, the team was starting to get banged up.
“I do think it came at the perfect time,” Campbell said Wednesday morning on 97.1 The Ticket’s Stoney and Jansen Show. “Man, to get your body, your mind, your soul, get the battery charged back up, get refreshed and let’s come in and make the last push here.”
Campbell said Jackson, Ragnow and Montgomery all “looked good” during the team’s first big practice back from the break on Tuesday.
The linemen are expected to be good to go for Sunday’s trip to LA, though Campbell said the team will continue to “see how he feels today and tomorrow” after his return to padded practice.
“This is about as healthy as we’ve been all year,” Campbell said. “And it’s good to have those guys back. Our guys have done an admirable job of stepping in there and holding the line, but to be able to get some of these guys back really elevates us. Those are our guys and they make us go.”
As for Jahmyr Gibbs, who had a breakout performance on MNF with 189 total yards and a score on 31 total touches, Campbell said the Lions won’t shy away from keeping him involved when Montgomery returns to the backfield.
“If we feel like Montgomery can go, certainly he’ll get his touches, but we’re very mindful of the fact that Gibbs is coming on. We really feel that way, so we’re not gonna stunt his progression and his development to help us win games,” Campbell said.
Detroit will be taking on a Chargers team that just handled the Jets with ease on Monday. The defense, spearheaded by Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack, posted eight sacks and recovered three fumbles.
Campbell described that performance as “a field day,” but he likes his team’s chances after facing a defensive menace themselves in their last time out.
“It’s gonna be tough, but we just faced Crosby. I mean, Crosby’s a freakin’ one-man wrecking ball,” Campbell said of Maxx Crosby, who was held to just one QB hit that game.
As for his own defense, the Lions will have their hands full with QB Justin Herbert and WR Keenan Allen.
"He's an accurate passer and he's able to just stand in there and rip it. And he's tough, God he's tough,” Campbell said. “He will take shot after shot after shot. He reminds me of Goff in that regard. He will stay in that pocket and he'll take it right in the face and deliver a throw and he won't be affected the next time. It all starts with him.”
They’ll attempt to limit the offense by containing Allen, though that’s easier said than done.
"[Allen] is the guy. He's the guy who's gonna get the ball, they're gonna find a way to get it to him on base downs, certainly third down," Campbell said. "When you talk about trying to squeeze the pocket on the quarterback and then shut down 13 here, that's how you take care of this offense. Or at least how you limit this offense."
Kickoff is set for 4:05 p.m. Sunday in what will be the first of three games in 11 days for the Lions, coming off 13 days without a game. Catch the action LIVE on 97.1 The Ticket.