The Detroit Lions are determined to push forward and honor the players they’ve lost to season-ending injuries, adopting a resilient mindset as they tackle the rest of the season.
Despite placing over 20 players on injured reserve this year, the roster and coaching staff remain optimistic about their ultimate goal: lifting the Lombardi Trophy.
Appearing on 97.1 The Ticket on Tuesday, quarterback Jared Goff addressed the atmosphere inside the team’s Allen Park Performance Center.
“The mood in the building is fine. Yeah, of course there’s been some injuries. The mood everywhere else is like the sky is falling, but the mood internally is fine,” Goff explained. “I said it after the game, I said, ‘I’m sure everyone will say the sky is falling now.’ But no, the mood internally is fine. We refuse to use these injuries as an excuse, and we’re gonna be just fine. We’ve got all the pieces we need. Dan said it earlier, we’ve got a ton of guys on defense who are gonna step up, have great opportunities. Offense, we’re gonna keep chugging along.”
Earlier in the day, head coach Dan Campbell energized the fanbase with a fiery interview on the team’s flagship radio station. Goff noted that Campbell’s passionate speech, which included several expletives, mirrored the way he communicates with the team.
“It’s the way he speaks to all of us, and he’s telling the truth,” Goff said. “There’s no fault about it. He’s being honest, he’s being sincere, he’s being genuine, and he’s right. If we reacted like everyone outside of us does, we’d have no chance.”
Heading into Week 16 with a 12-2 record, Detroit is still in the hunt for the NFC’s No. 1 seed.
The Lions are hopeful they’ll see the return of multiple veterans, including linebacker Alex Anzalone, by the playoffs. Confidence within the organization remains high.
“I’m telling you right now we can,” Goff said when asked about the team’s aspirations. “Don’t be depressed, we’re fine. We’re 12-2, we’ve got three games ahead of us. We’re in good shape.”
