The Detroit Lions are on the cusp of the team’s first playoff berth since the 2016 season. A division title is well within reach, too — which will be the franchise’s first-ever NFC North crown.
It’s led to a conversation that is unfamiliar to Lions fans. Should Detroit rest some key players in the final week or two in order to save them for the postseason?
Dan Campbell was asked that very question in his press conference on Monday. Campbell, who has coached in the postseason before on Sean Payton’s staff in New Orleans, gave a great, noncommittal answer.
“Yeah, when we’re done with the season, they’re going to rest. I promise you that,” Campbell said. They’re going to get plenty of time off.”
It’s certainly not a “yes”, but it also savvily doesn’t close the door on Campbell choosing to scale back playing time for some players who might be battling injuries, or giving more in-game reps to younger reserves.