Lions HC Dan Campbell gets honest about team's potential in 2026

Dan Campbell and the Detroit Lions are somewhere in that awkward, honest stretch ahead of the 2026 season. We all know this team is capable of more than they delivered last season. With so much talent on both the offense and defense, there's no reason this team should have been last in the NFC North last season. But they were, and now, they're trying to come back from it.

Speaking with the press at the end of the Lions' minicamp, Campbell said that he believes this team has a chance and potential because of their smart mix of veteran and rookie talent. He also said that he would give rookies a chance to get playing time.

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"I think there's always a balance when you get into the season of, there could be a player that's a tick better," Campbell said, according to USA Today. "He's an older player, he's a veteran player. But, if you really feel like a young guy is learning from his mistakes and is growing, not making the same mistake twice and you feel constant growth, at some point, it's time to push him into that position and let him go."

"Because in about four weeks, they will be better and then they'll continue to grow from there. If that's not showing up, I don't care who those players are; we're not going through it. We're not going to do it," Campbell added.

Campbell also said that there are a "lot of open battles" on the team. And, yes, he's willing to give the new guys a chance.

So, it's already shaping up to be an exciting season for the Lions. The team's rookies report on Saturday, July 25, and veterans are slated to arrive on Tuesday, July 28.