Whereas conversations stay about whether or not the Detroit Lions will add to their line of defense room, one factor stays constant: the crew’s religion in Marcus Davenport.
This crew has been singing Davenport’s praises ever since they signed him to a one-year deal final 12 months. They usually’re again at it once more now. Take, for instance, coach Dan Campbell’s reply to a query on Sirius XM about seeing Aidan Hutchinson again on the sector after his leg harm in 2024.
“You speak about his sight for sore eyes, after which simply whenever you suppose you’ll be able to’t really feel any higher, you see Davenport on the opposite facet,” Campbell mentioned. “I do know it’s solely three days, however boy, he seems to be good, too.”
Davenport has an extended historical past with Campbell. In truth, all the way in which to the start of his NFL profession, when he was drafted within the first spherical by the New Orleans Saints again in 2018. When Campbell was the Saints’ assistant head coach/tight ends coach, he was instantly enthralled by each his athleticism and energy. It’s protected to say these emotions have transferred to Lions basic supervisor Brad Holmes, as properly.
“Marcus is the right individual to have on the opposite facet of Aidan by way of his skill, how he performs the sport, his size, how he can push the pocket. He’s a great athlete. He’s highly effective, his fashion,” Holmes instructed SiriusXM. “All these makings, he has that. He simply has had lots of dangerous luck on the well being entrance.”
Alas, that final level is the one which at all times comes up: Davenport’s well being. Accidents have plagued his profession a lot you could inform he’s sick of answering questions on them. He lasted simply 4 video games with the Vikings in 2023, and solely two with Detroit final 12 months. He’s but to play 16 video games in a season, and it simply looks as if dangerous luck follows him wherever he goes.
“I don’t actually prefer it when folks speak about me anymore, good or dangerous,” Davenport mentioned on Tuesday. “Shoot, I’ve bought to carry a chip on my shoulder, after which with each good factor, shoot, the subsequent day folks be coming after me in any case. So if folks can depart me alone and let me simply work, I’ll be comfortable.”
The Lions admit that harm luck is typically simply destiny. There’s not a lot anybody can do to regulate or cease it. However Davenport has teamed up with the medical employees this offseason to do every little thing they will to develop a plan to attempt to work the chances of their favor. And if it really works, the Lions might be in enterprise.
“It’s not at all times in your palms, and that’s the secret,” Campbell mentioned. “And that’s circumstances. That’s the way in which it goes. But when he does keep wholesome, oh yeah, he can do it. Yeah. There’s no query. He’s gonna give us every little thing we’re in search of after which some on the opposite facet of Hutch. So what I do know is he’s put every little thing in to coming again, being stronger, being extra secure, do every little thing he can to scale back that danger of harm.”
Over on SiriusXM, Hutchinson has even provided his companies to assist hold Davenport on the sector this 12 months.
“I’m gonna attempt to give him as many holistic approaches as I can to maintain him wholesome this 12 months.”
Right here’s hoping all of it works.
