Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell defended his decision to play starters in their regular season finale against the Minnesota Vikings, despite suffering two injuries during the game. Rookie tight end Sam LaPorta and reserve receiver Kalif Raymond both suffered knee injuries and did not return to the game. Campbell acknowledged that the news for both players is not good, but it may not be as bad as it initially appeared.
There was debate over whether the Lions should have played their starters in this game, considering they had already secured the third overall seed in the NFC. The only way they could have moved up to the second seed was if they won and both the Cowboys and Eagles lost. However, with the Lions’ game scheduled earlier than the Cowboys and Eagles, they wouldn’t have known if the second seed was still attainable until after their game.
Campbell explained that he tried to limit the load on some of their star players by playing their depth, but unfortunately injuries still occurred. He emphasized that their intention was never to see anyone get hurt and that they were in a tough situation with a limited number of active players due to other injuries.
Despite minor injuries to other key players, like Amon-Ra St. Brown and Brian Branch, Campbell stated that they were doing fine. The main concern is LaPorta, who has been a crucial part of the Lions’ offense throughout the season. However, the extent of his injury and his playoff outlook are still uncertain.
In conclusion, the Detroit Lions coach defended his decision to play starters despite the injuries suffered in their regular season finale. The team had already secured their playoff spot, and although they tried to limit the load on their star players, injuries still occurred. The extent of the injuries to Sam LaPorta and Kalif Raymond is unclear, while other minor injuries to key players are not a major concern. The Lions will have to wait for further updates on LaPorta’s condition and his availability for the playoffs.