The NFL included video of Jack Campbell in a memo sent to teams this week warning players not to hit other players while trying to punch out fumbles.
The NFL included video of Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell in a memo sent to teams this week noting it is a penalty for players to strike other players while attempting to punch loose a fumble, but Campbell said that won't stop him from going for turnovers on some plays.
“It was just like they were mad about it, they were mad about me punching – missing the ball," Campbell said. "I don’t know how many people have played in an NFL game, but when you’re going full speed and you’re trying to get the ball out, punchouts are hard to come by. So I don’t really care, I’m going to keep punching at it and if I miss it ... screw it."
Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard mentioned Campbell's appearance in the video during his regular weekly news conference Friday.
Asked about Aidan Hutchinson's knack for producing sack-fumbles – he has three this year – Sheppard said he is "violently attacking the ball" and added, "Look at Jack."
"I mean they just sent out a memo and the tape of the way that Jack is doing it," he said. "And I mean it’s violent, it’s aggressive and it’s the way we play. We won’t make excuses and I hope it continues to show up and I hope it upticks as we progress in the season."
Campbell leads the Lions with 56 tackles through six games and has a career-high two forced fumbles.
He said he has been "hunting the ball" more with the Lions this season than he did in college at Iowa or previously in his career, though he said he only goes for punchouts on certain plays.
"When I’m in the open field I’m definitely not going to go for the punchout cause you being able to get a punchout in the open field, (the) chances of that are not very good," he said. "It’s more when you’re the second guy in or the guy’s on the ground getting up, it’s a great chance to get a punchout cause if the guy catches the ball, falls on the ground, gets back up, he’s pretty loose with the ball usually."
Campbell attempted to punch loose a fumble on a pass to Hollywood Brown in last week's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, when Brown caught the ball over the middle then popped to his feet to try and run for extra yards.
It's unclear on the broadcast and All-22 clips of the play if Campbell struck Brown or ball.
In another prominent play from Week 5, San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Alfred Collins hit Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams in the facemask as he tried to punch loose a ball on the goal line.
The internal officiating memo sent to teams included video of several plays.
Campbell noted "it’s going to hurt my hand more than the" opponent when he misses a punchout because "they got pads on." And he said he has been told it's a personal foul to punch a player while attempting to punch loose a fumble.
"So I’ll probably have 150 personal fouls," he said. "So that’ll be fun."
Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Jack Campbell won't stop punching for fumbles for Detroit Lions
Category: Football
