Lions head coach Dan Campbell spoke to the media Monday a day after Detroit’s 20-6 win on the road over Tampa Bay that improved their record to 5-1 on the year and made it four straight wins for the Lions.
Here are the key questions to come from Campbell’s Monday media session:
Montgomery left the game in the second quarter after being tackled on a 19-yard gain on a screen play and did not return. Campbell said Monday Montgomery is dealing with a cartilage injury around the ribs. Anyone who has suffered that injury knows just how painful it can be.
“He’s got a little something in there with cartilage and he’s probably going to be down for a little bit here,” Campbell said. “I don’t know how long. At his position it’s not an easy thing to deal with so we’ll just take it as it comes but I think there’s a chance we won’t have him for a little bit.”
Campbell said he didn’t yet know if it was something that could land Montgomery on IR and force him to miss at least the next month.
The one positive for the running back room is it does appear Gibbs is trending toward playing Sunday in Baltimore after missing the last two games with a hamstring injury.
“Feel a lot better about Gibbs this week,” Campbell said. “He ran really well on Saturday before we left (for Tampa Bay) and had another really good workout today.”
Campbell said Gibbs, defensive back Brian Branch (ankle) and tight end James Mitchell (hamstring) all looked good working out on Monday. That’s good news for the Lions.
Campbell went right down the list: Punter Jack Fox, linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin, linebacker Alex Anzalone, defensive lineman Benito Jones, defensive lineman Alim McNeill, defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs, quarterback Jared Goff and wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown, Josh Reynolds and Jameson Williams.
Campbell said the defense was terrific all game and the offense’s ability to convert on four third-and-longs was a big difference in the game. Both of Detroit’s touchdowns came on third-and-long plays.
Awosika started at left guard and Graham Glasgow at right guard with Halapoulivaati Vaitai on the bench in reserve. It turns out Vaitai is still working his way back to being 100 percent after missing a couple games early in the year with a knee injury.
Campbell said Awosika was solid and there was both good and bad on tape but all and all he competed and Campbell thought it was a positive first start.
“Big V is just steadily coming back from this,” Campbell said. “He’s kind of been on reserve. He was better this week than last week but we just want to make sure he’s 100 percent ready to go and then we’ll take it from there.”
