What Jack Campbell told Lions coach about NFL future after devastating injury: ‘Are you surprised?’

As of Wednesday, Lions linebacker Jack Campbell had “full movement” in his lower body but not yet in his upper body after suffering a scary neck injury on Nov. 1.

Yet he can’t keep his mind off of returning to the field.

Lions head coach Dan Campbell told CBS that Jack told him, “Just make sure the house is taken care of until I can get back.”

Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) is introduced before a game against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field in Detroit, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell watches against the Miami Dolphins during the first half of an NFL football game in Miami Gardens, Fla., Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell

“Are you surprised at anything for Jack? That’s Jack,” Dan Campbell elaborated to reporters after the team’s road win over the Dolphins on Sunday. “Jack is all about the goal in front of me, and ‘I’m going to attack that goal, and I’m going to destroy that goal, and I’ll move onto the next thing.’

“As you know, the way he’s wired, he will do any and everything it will take to overcome any perception of adversity. That’s the way he is.”

Jack Campbell, 26, was stretchered off and taken to a hospital after tackling Vikings tight end TJ Hockenson. The first-team All-Pro said Wednesday he was “continuing to make progress with movement in my upper body” and that he was “incredibly encouraged” by his progress.

Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (47) is carted off the field during a game against the Minnesota Vikings in Detroit, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Detroit Lions fans show support for injured linebacker Jack Campbell during a game against the Miami Dolphins in Miami Gardens, Fla., Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

“Every day he heals a little bit more,” Dan said of Jack on Sunday.

His teammates wore his No. 46 jersey as they arrived to the stadium for Sunday’s game, and his locker was set up with his jersey.

“It’s all we could do because I mentioned this before, he’ll take the prayers, but he didn’t want the pity,” Dan Campbell said. “He didn’t want you wasting the time thinking about him. He certainly doesn’t want us to go and not play our best ball and lose a game. So that’s what we could do, and we wanted to honor him.

“There’s nothing easy about it. This is hard because you do want to talk about it and acknowledge it, because if you just brush it under the rug that’s not fair. I mean, the guy means too much to us, and so the guys did that.”

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