Dan Campbell Admits Lions Are ‘In a Hole,’ But Insists They Won’t Panic Before Cowboys Clash

Dan Campbell Says Lions Feel “Urgency, Not Panic” as Dallas Showdown Looms

After falling to the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving, the Detroit Lions now sit two full games behind in the NFC North race. Head coach Dan Campbell summed up the situation bluntly: “We dug ourselves into a little bit of a hole.” But in classic Campbell fashion, he emphasized that while urgency is rising, panic is not. The message inside the locker room is simple — beat the Dallas Cowboys and get back on track.

The holiday weekend brought a wave of bad news for Detroit. Amon-Ra St. Brown is dealing with an ankle sprain, Frank Ragnow suffered a Grade 3 hamstring injury, and there are renewed concerns about Kerby Joseph’s knee. To make matters worse, rookie corner Terrion Arnold was moved to IR to undergo shoulder surgery. The mounting injuries are an uncomfortable flashback to last season.

Still, Campbell hasn’t lost faith. “It takes every guy doing their job,” he said. “The margin for error is small, but it’s doable.”

Lions’ Playoff Push Starts With Beating Dallas

They’ll need every ounce of that resilience against a surging Cowboys team fresh off a 31–28 Thanksgiving win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Dallas has now stacked three straight victories and appears to be peaking at the ideal time. Dak Prescott is charging toward another 4,000-yard campaign with 3,261 yards on 303-of-437 passing. His dynamic duo — CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens — has combined for 1,886 yards, 124 catches, and 11 of his 25 touchdowns.

Defensively, Dallas is getting stronger too. With Kenny Clark joining Quinnen Williams up front, the Cowboys’ defensive line has taken a noticeable leap. Campbell didn’t hold back about Williams’ impact:
“He helps those guys… he’s disruptive, against the run and pass. And he makes everyone around him better.”

Another major factor for Dallas: former Lion James Houston, who is having a breakout season. Houston leads the team with 4.5 sacks, plus 24 tackles, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.

Where Detroit Might Have an Edge

Detroit’s own quarterback, Jared Goff, has matched Prescott’s 25 touchdowns while throwing just five interceptions. When protected, Goff’s accuracy gives him a slight advantage in pure passing precision. But the big concern is obvious: St. Brown’s injury. If the Sun God can’t go, the Lions lose their most reliable receiver.

That puts the spotlight on Jameson Williams, who delivered a strong performance against Green Bay. Campbell praised the former first-rounder:
“He’s fearless… his fundamentals are improving… his routes have detail now. He’s becoming a tough cover.”
Campbell also noted how hard Williams practiced this week, saying, “This guy works. He works every day.”

“Next Man Up” Becomes the Lions’ Rallying Cry

With Kalif Raymond also sidelined, defenses will shift their focus toward Williams. That means Detroit needs production from elsewhere. Two players—rookie Isaac TeSlaa and longtime practice-squad grinder Tom Kennedy—answered the call last week against Green Bay.

Kennedy, who has bounced between the practice squad and active roster since 2019, had one of the biggest moments of the game: a 23-yard conversion on third down that set up a David Montgomery touchdown. He also added 81 kick-return yards and a 21-yard punt return.

Campbell praised Kennedy’s reliability:
“We trust TK. That’s why he’s here… he can do a million jobs on offense and he can return for us.”

Special teams coordinator Dave Fipp echoed the sentiment:
“He attacked the coverage… he played fast and with purpose. When a guy gets his opportunity, you hope he capitalizes — and he did.”

An Opportunity for an Unexpected Hero

Thursday night against Dallas is more than just another game — it’s a chance for the Lions to regain control of their season. The roster is still loaded with high-end talent, but with Joseph, St. Brown, and Arnold sidelined, Detroit will need someone unexpected to step into the spotlight.

Maybe it’s a young receiver. Maybe it’s a reserve defensive back. Maybe it’s a veteran fighting for his NFL future.

And how fitting would it be if the hero is an undrafted player who has spent most of his career grinding on the Lions’ practice squad?

The urgency is there. The panic isn’t. Now it’s time to see who answers the call.