Tag: Campbell

Lions linebacker Jack Campbell practices during minicamp at Allen Park.

Report: Lions decline LB Jack Campbell’s fifth-year option

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Lions reportedly made a split decision with their 2023 first-round draft selections, picking up running back Jahmyr Gibbs’ fifth-year option but not All-Pro linebacker Jack Campbell’s.

Fox 2 Detroit broke the news Tuesday night and a source confirmed the information to ESPN.

Gibbs will earn a guaranteed $14.29 million for the 2027 season. Campbell’s option would have paid him an estimated $21.925 million, which is more than the league’s highest-paid off-ball linebacker, per ESPN.

ESPN reported that the Lions want to bring Campbell back on a long-term extension, as well as Gibbs. Tight end Sam LaPorta and Brian Branch, also are due for extensions. Since they were not first-round picks, the Lions do not need to sign them to extensions immediately.

Gibbs, 24, made the decision a no-brainer by racking up 5,029 yards from scrimmage with 49 touchdowns in 49 games (24 starts) across his first three seasons, earning three straight Pro Bowl selections.

Campbell, 25, earned All-Pro first-team and Pro Bowl honors last season with career highs in tackles (176), sacks (five) and forced fumbles (three) in 17 starts. He has 402 tackles and 8.5 sacks through 51 games (46 starts).

The Lions took Gibbs with the 12th overall pick and Campbell with the 18th selection in the 2023 NFL Draft.

–Field Level Media

Feb 24, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; New England Patriots general manager Eliot Wolf speaks at the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Patriots not moving embattled LT Will Campbell, anticipate jump in 2026

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Before Patriots general manager Eliot Wolf dives into the 2026 draft class, he clarified his stance on 2025 first-round pick Will Campbell.

Heavily criticized for his playoff performance and the appearance he was overmatched in Super Bowl LX, the Patriots clarified Campbell was never fully recovered from a knee injury that sapped strength and agility.

“When he came back from that injury, I personally didn’t see the same level of lower-body strength you saw before the injury,” Wolf said Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. “Before that I think Will played really well all year. The film would attest to that. He probably had three of his four worst games in the playoffs.”

Campbell said a week after the Super Bowl the knee injury that sent him to IR after Week 12 wasn’t completely healed when he was activated Week 18. He said he “obviously wasn’t 100 percent” in the postseason.

“I mean, I don’t think when you tear a ligament in your knee, it’s not going to be how it was before, but I was healthy enough to go,” he said. “I’m not going to say that it held me back, but yeah, it wasn’t the same as it was before, obviously. But I was good.”

Wolf on Tuesday shut down suggestions the Patriots would consider sliding Campbell to guard. Campbell allowed double-digit pass-rush pressures — a league high for the 2025 season of 14 — against the Seahawks in the Super Bowl defeat.

“We’re not moving him to guard,” Wolf said. “He really couldn’t anchor the same way he did pre-injury. I know everybody talks about the arm length, but he has a set of skills that enable him to play with that arm length. He’s really quick out of his sets, he’s technically sound … again, he’s 22 years old and we expect some improvement out of him as well.”

Campbell was selected fourth overall in 2025. He was under the 33-inch mark most teams set as a minimum for offensive tackles for arm length — 32 5/8 inches at the 2025 NFL Combine — but at LSU’s pro day, the measurement came in at 33 inches.

Head coach Mike Vrabel said he’s not considering a move at left tackle. Campbell is similar to one of Tom Brady’s primary left tackles with the Patriots, former Purdue tight end and tackle Matt Light. His reach was similar — in the 33-inch range — and Light worked against Vrabel in practices when both played for New England. They were on the same three Super Bowl-winning teams — XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX — with the Patriots.

–Field Level Media

Reports: Lions land on ex-Cards OC Drew Petzing for same role

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The Detroit Lions have hired former Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing to the same position, multiple outlets reported Monday.

After losing successful playcaller Ben Johnson to be the head coach of the Bears last offseason, the Lions struggled with Josh Morton calling plays this season. Head coach Dan Campbell initially demoted Morton from play-calling duties midseason before Morton was ultimately fired Jan. 6.

Petzing, 38, served as the Cardinals’ offensive coordinator and playcaller since 2023 and takes over a potent Lions offense that finished as the No. 1 scoring team in 2024 and tied for fourth in 2025.

After losing quarterback Kyler Murray five games into the season, Petzing and the Cardinals rolled with Jacoby Brissett for the rest of the schedule, leading to a 3-14 record. Petzing’s offense finished 19th in yards per game (325.8), seventh in passing yards per game (232.6) and 23rd in points per game (20.9).

Before joining Arizona’s staff, Petzing was an offensive assistant for the Minnesota Vikings (2014-19) and a tight ends coach and quarterbacks coach for the Cleveland Browns (2020-22).

–Field Level Media

Rocco Becht commits to Penn State, joins coach Matt Campbell

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Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht announced Sunday that he has committed to Penn State, the school that hired Cyclones coach Matt Campbell early last month.

The commitment gives Campbell instant player leadership in Becht as he establishes his program at the Big Ten school.

Becht passed for 9,274 yards and 64 touchdowns for the Cyclones over the past four seasons. He was intercepted 27 times and also rushed for 19 touchdowns.

The only Iowa State quarterback to throw more career touchdown passes is Brock Purdy (81 from 2018-21), now quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers. Becht’s passing yardage is third behind Purdy (12,170) and Bret Meyer (9,499 from 2004-07).

Becht’s best season came in 2024 when he passed for 3,505 yards and 25 touchdowns, both second in school history behind Purdy’s 3,982 yards and 27 scores in 2019.

But last season, Becht struggled with a shoulder injury and passed for just 2,584 yards and 16 touchdowns against nine interceptions. He underwent surgery after the season for a partially torn labrum.

Another factor in the drop was that Iowa State lost star receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel to the Houston Texans in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Backup quarterback Alex Manske also is joining the Nittany Lions. According to the Des Moines Register, at least 11 Iowa State players have transferred to Penn State.

Among the list is tight end Ben Brahmer (37 catches, six touchdowns in 2024), safety Marcus Neal (two interceptions, 11 tackles for loss) and linebacker Caleb Bacon (68 tackles).

–Field Level Media

Reports: Patriots LT Will Campbell has sprained MCL

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New England Patriots left tackle Will Campbell is believed to have a sprained MCL and is awaiting MRI results on his right knee, multiple outlets reported Monday.

The rookie blind-side protector for quarterback Drake Maye was carted off the field during the third quarter of New England’s 26-20 victory Sunday in Cincinnati.

Campbell, 21, is a candidate for injured reserve with the hopes he can return in time for the playoffs for the Patriots (10-2), who won their ninth consecutive game.

Campbell, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, has started all 12 games. He appeared despondent after the injury, draping a towel over his head as he rode in the back of a cart to the visitors’ locker room.

Vederian Lowe replaced Campbell at left tackle following the injury.

–Field Level Media

Sep 15, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch (32) celebrates after intercepting a pass from Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (not pictured) in the second quarter at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

Dan Campbell, Lions set sights on Bucs, ‘move forward’ with Branch banned

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Dan Campbell sported a black tee shirt with the Lions logo and the word “SALTY” scripted across the chest, appropriate attire for the fiery head coach replying to questions about playing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this week without suspended safety Brian Branch.

“My job is to move forward here. I know this: We don’t have him. We don’t have him,” Campbell said of the plan as the Lions welcome Baker Mayfield and the Bucs on Monday night. “So I can worry about that or I can worry about what we do have and how we adjust. We’ll find out on Kerby (Joseph). … We can play one safety and play four linebackers for all I care. We’ll figure it out. We’ll have a plan ready and we’ll be ready to play Tampa Bay.”

Branch was fined for the 11th time in two seasons and serves a one-game suspension this week for igniting a postgame fracas as the Lions’ loss in Kansas City went final. He threw an open-handed punch at Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, claiming he was provoked by an uncalled illegal block in the back.

Campbell said the Lions are “going to be looking pretty good at the end of November” as injured players get healthy. Cornerback Terrion Arnold and pass rusher Marcus Davenport are among the defensive players the Lions aren’t counting on for contributions until after their bye in Week 8.

Joseph attempted to play through a nagging knee injury at Kansas City last week, prompting Campbell to reassess his status with the potential to rest him until November. After the game against Tampa Bay this week, the Lions host the Minnesota Vikings on Nov. 2

“How much worse are you making this injury?” Campbell said of his thought process with Joseph playing this week. “The production is not there. We’ll reassess here. We saw the game the other day. He tried to gut through it. Played most of the game. It wasn’t his best performance. But he’d tell you that, too. He was giving us what he had.”

A dinged-up secondary hit at a bad time, helping bring out a vintage Patrick Mahomes performance last week with the NFC South-leading Buccaneers up next. Campbell said he has nothing but respect for Mayfield.

Branch intercepted Mayfield — who had one touchdown pass and was sacked five times — in the Week 2 meeting between the NFC contenders in 2024. Tampa Bay won 20-16, dealing Detroit one of its two regular-season losses.

“The way he plays, his leadership. His ability to push the ball down the field, make plays with his legs. I just think he’s playing at a high level,” Campbell said. “He’s a guy that gives them a chance any time he’s in the game.”

Mayfield has only one interception and is tied for third in the NFL with 12 touchdown passes this season. The Buccaneers are not healthy at several skill positions, which could soften the blow for the back end of the Lions’ defense.

Wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (hamstring) left the Week 6 win and Mike Evans (hamstring) and Chris Godwin (leg) were already out. Running back Bucky Irving hasn’t played since Sept. 28.

The Lions sacked Mayfield four times and intercepted him twice in the 2023 postseason meeting, but he completed 26 of 41 passes for 349 yards and three touchdowns.

–Field Level Media

Oct 4, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; NC State Wolfpack quarterback CJ Bailey (11) prepares to throw the ball during the first half of the game against Campbell Fighting Camels at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

CJ Bailey aerial assault powers NC State offensive explosion vs. Campbell

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CJ Bailey completed 20 of 23 passes for 337 yards and four touchdowns as host North Carolina State defeated Campbell 56-10 Saturday.

The Wolfpack (4-2) scored touchdowns on their first eight possessions. The Fighting Camels (1-5) didn’t make a stop until Bailey was out of the game.

NC State outgained Campbell 607-188.

The 49 points were the most NC State has scored in the first half since 2004. After losing back-to-back Atlantic Coast Conference games in the past two weeks, the Wolfpack outgained the Camels 482-99 in the first half, the most first-half yards by any college football team this season.

NC State was coming off a 23-21 loss to Virginia Tech and 45-33 loss to Duke in the past two weeks.

Sophomore Hollywood Smothers dominated on the ground in the first half, gaining 123 yards on four carries and a touchdown. Smothers also caught two passes for 30 yards and a touchdown.

Jayden Scott finished with 89 yards on 10 carries with two touchdowns.

Terrell Anderson, Cody Hardy, Smothers and Justin Joly all caught touchdown passes as six different NC State players reached the end zone.

The Wolfpack scored first when Will Wilson capped a 75-yard, five-play drive with a 2-yard run with 13:03 left in the first quarter.

The Camels took advantage of a muffed punt by NC State’s Teddy Hoffmann to tie the game with 8:54 left in the first quarter. Campbell took over at the NC State 14 and two plays later Kamden Sixkiller hit Mike Chandler for a 13-yard touchdown and a 7-7 game.

That was the last highlight of the first half for the Camels as the Wolfpack ran off 42 straight points before halftime amid 49 straight overall.

Smothers ripped off a 59-yard scoring run one play after the Camels had tied it, opening the floodgates.

Bailey connected with Hardy from 37 yards out, Smothers from 16 yards away and Anderson 34 yards from distance to push the lead to 35-7 halfway through the second quarter.

Scott, a freshman, capped a seven-play, 88-yard drive with a 14-yard scoring run later in the second quarter before finishing a nine-play, 57-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run with 6:06 left in the third quarter to wrap up the Wolfpack scoring. In between, Bailey tossed his fourth touchdown to Joly.

–Field Level Media

Sep 11, 2025; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack quarterback CJ Bailey (11) throws a pass in first half against Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Luke Jamroz-Imagn Images

NC State eager to establish run game against Campbell

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North Carolina State will take a break from a two-game skid in conference play and will look to get back into the win column on Saturday afternoon against Campbell in Raleigh, N.C.

North Carolina State (3-2) started the season on a three-game winning streak, including a home win over now 24th-ranked Virginia.

On Saturday, the Wolfpack will dip back into non-conference play following a tough day on the ground in last weekend’s 23-21 home loss to Virginia Tech.

The Wolfpack struggled to run and stop the run against the Hokies, rushing for only 59 yards and allowing 229.

North Carolina State leaned heavily instead on CJ Bailey, who threw for 240 yards and two touchdowns, with no interceptions.

“This is a game that, (we’ve) been saying for two weeks and say it again — it’s about us,” Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren said. “We got to get better in certain areas. The areas that we really wanted to improve in last week, we did.

“Discipline was an area that we hurt ourselves quite a bit in the Duke game (45-33 loss on Sept. 20), and we felt like we improved in those areas, but execution at the line of scrimmage on both sides has got to improve.”

FCS program Campbell (1-4) will travel 45 minutes north to the state capital after a 42-35 loss to Western Carolina last week.

The Fighting Camels trailed 28-3 before making it a close contest, led by Kamden Sixkiller with 205 passing yards and three total touchdowns (two rushing).

Trayjen Llanas-Wilcox caught five passes for 124 yards, and Stevie Keener added three grabs for 50 yards and a TD.

“They’re going to get experience against ACC-speed DBs right there,” Campbell coach Braxton Harris said. “That’s going to be a huge experience to add to their toolbox that we get back to CAA play after this game. That’s going to be a huge advantage for those kids. And so, at the end of the day, it’s an opportunity for us to get better and us to get better at doing our job.”

Saturday will be the second game for the Camels against an FBS foe this season after losing to East Carolina 56-3 on Sept 6.

North Carolina State faced the Pirates on Aug. 28 and won 24-17.

–Field Level Media

Mar 31, 2025; Palm Beach, FL, USA; New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel answers questions from the media during the NFL Annual League Meeting at The Breakers. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

Patriots coach Mike Vrabel enamored with OT options in draft

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Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel admits he likes the options expected to be available when New England is on the clock with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2025 draft.

He just doesn’t know exactly who will still be on the board.

“You tell me who goes 1, 2 and 3, and I’ll tell you who goes 4,” Vrabel said Monday at the NFL’s annual spring meeting in Palm Beach, Fla.

New England didn’t add a left tackle in free agency and Vrabel confesses the “draft is a good option for us” to fill what is viewed as a glaring need. The Patriots signed 34-year-old Morgan Moses to play right tackle, and the Patriots plan to give Caedan Wallace an opportunity to compete for a starting job, Vrabel said.

While not ruling out a trade down from No. 4, the top offensive tackle prospects in the draft — LSU’s Will Campbell and Missouri’s Armand Membou — are names Vrabel has heavily studied.

“They’re great young, talented players that have great film. Will has a lot of snaps at left tackle. Membou has played right, but there’s a lot of guys that have played right and left and switched. Those are two good young players to talk about in that conversation,” Vrabel said.

Campbell’s wingspan of less than 78 inches was a red flag at the NFL Scouting Combine and his arm length of 32 5/8 inches is well under the prototype baseline most teams follow. Vrabel insisted Campbell’s college film at LSU proved he can play left tackle in the NFL. He also indicated there are no doubts in the Patriots’ building that Membou, a 332-pound freakish athlete who played right tackle at Missouri, can operate on quarterback Drake Maye’s blindside.

Vrabel went out of his way to warn media to “be careful” projecting the Patriots to pick a player at the position because it’s viewed as a dire need. He said personnel boss Eliot Wolf and the scouting staff are focused on adding premium talent regardless of position, which could include wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter of Colorado.

The Patriots have Hunter ranked as the No. 1 wide receiver in the draft. New England wouldn’t insist on Hunter converting to offense full-time after he played both ways at Colorado, logging more than 100 snaps per game as a two-way star and Heisman Trophy winner. New England isn’t joining the debate about how difficult the double workload would be in the NFL, because there is no true precedent, Vrabel said.

“We’ve never seen a player necessarily do it,” Vrabel said. “There are some things that he can improve on by probably concentrating more on just one position, but never going to put any restrictions on Travis or any player. We’d be open to playing everybody that we had at more than one position, anything that would help the football team.”

Vrabel said defensive tackle Christian Barmore is cleared to participate in voluntary team workouts and would be closely monitored in his upramp to return from a blood clotting condition. Barmore, 25, experienced recurring symptoms in December after playing four games and his future was uncertain. Vrabel said Monday that the Patriots have “a great plan for him” now that he’s feeling better.

–Field Level Media

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) talks to head coach Dan Campbell before a play against Green Bay Packers during the second half at Ford Field in Detroit on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024.

Dan Campbell: Lions will be back ‘stronger’

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Dan Campbell might lose a coach or two during the ongoing NFL hiring cycle, but he remains confident the Lions have the foundation to be back stronger next season to compete for the Super Bowl.

“We talk about that core. That core group is still intact — and we’ve signed some back, some are up on contracts and that’ll be ongoing. But, yeah, we absolutely do,” Campbell said Monday of whether the Lions’ window is still open. “I think the most important thing is you want to know you’ve got your culture, you’ve got your identity, and you’ve got players that fit into that, and we’ve got that. And we’ve got players in every pivotal position you can ask for to have success and those guys are made the right way, so, absolutely, our window is open.”

Detroit claimed the No. 1 seed in the NFC for the first time in franchise history. But the Lions were blown out by the Washington Commanders, 45-31, on Saturday night at Ford Field. The abrupt end to a season in which the Lions were 15-2 is a difficult reality for Campbell and many of his players who felt the sting of a season-ending loss in the NFC Championship at San Francisco a year ago.

“We met two of those goals this year and, in a sense, went above and beyond what we were a year ago,” Campbell said. “But yet, we didn’t get any further and man, that’s disappointing. But it also eats at me. That drives me. That motivates me.”

Campbell said of the season finish: “We’re going to come back stronger, we’re going to learn from this, and it’s just more fuel on the fire, is what it is.”

The Lions re-signed multiple core players last offseason with new deals for quarterback Jared Goff, offensive tackle Penei Sewell and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.

While there are personnel holes to be filled, Campbell also has a coaching staff in flux. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has three known interviews for head-coaching vacancies and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn is a popular candidate, too. Campbell said he reminded players and coaches there is a “next man up” mentality regardless of what happens with his top lieutenants.

With a 27-7 regular-season record the past two seasons, the win-now approach for the franchise won’t change, Campbell said. He is prioritizing making certain Goff’s comfort level in the offense doesn’t decline.

“We’re not going to allow that to happen,” Campbell said. “Does it hurt to lose those guys? Absolutely. They’re a part of what we’ve been here. They’ve been here for four years and they’re one of the major reasons why we’ve been able to get to where we’ve been.

“We came out of the dump and got to where we’re at, so I will forever be grateful for those guys and our team will. And is it a loss? Absolutely, it’d be a loss, but yet we move forward. This train rolls on and I’ll find the next best guys for us.”

–Field Level Media