With Jack Campbell's availability uncertain, Detroit needs someone to take over the defensive communication duties. A look at four linebackers' experience in the middle reveals the most logical solution.
At this point, we don't know what is going on with the Detroit Lions' All-Pro linebacker Jack Campbell. All we really know is that Dan Campbell said multiple times on Tuesday that he was improving.
What seems very evident is that the Lions are going to have to figure out who can be the new green dot of this defense. The green dot is essentially the quarterback of the defense, and usually that guy is playing the middle linebacker or MIKE role.
On Monday, Dan Campbell was asked who he thinks can take on the role and here's what he had to say:
"Well, I don't know if we're that far yet, but honestly they could all handle it. I mean, (Lions LB Derrick) Barnes ended up taking it the other day because of where we were at. But, (Lions LB Malcolm Rodriguez) Rodrigo's done it before, he could do it and so could (Lions LB Trevor) Nowaske. So, we're kind of in the beginning stages of that, but I feel pretty comfortable with all of them." Campbell said.
What I wanted to do was go back and take a look at each player's experience in the middle and try to figure it out from there. I also wanted to add Joe Bachie to the mix as well because I think he gets called up soon. Here's what I found:
Derrick Barnes
MLB snaps: 1,275
Verdict: Strongest experience case
Malcolm Rodriguez
MLB snaps: 921
Verdict: Experienced alternative
Joe Bachie
MLB snaps: 209
Verdict: Limited MLB sample
Trevor Nowaske
MLB snaps: 0
Verdict: No MLB experience
Ok, the thing that makes the most sense is that you have to move Barnes out of the SAM and put him in the middle. He's done it a lot and was actually the Lions' starter there before they drafted Jack Campbell and even for a while after they drafted Campbell. He played well there, just not as well as Campbell, right?
It makes life the simplest going this route as well. Then you can have Bachie back him up; you move Nowaske over to the SAM, where he's played the majority of his snaps in the NFL, and then you have Rodriguez take on the WILL as he's been doing, and then the newly signed K.J. Britt can help out in that spot as well.
You'd love to have Campbell out there more than anything, but this is not so bad. This is a group of veterans who have all started a lot of games in the NFL, but Barnes stands above them in terms of experience and that's the way you have to go if you ask us.
Detroit Lions News
Mike Payton November 2, 2026
This article was originally published on A to Z Sports. Read the full story here: A closer look at the Detroit Lions' linebacker experience reveals who makes the most sense to replace Jack Campbell
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