Detroit Lions Jack Campbell Reveals 'Welcome to NFL' Moment

Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell has been putting in the work all throughout training camp. 

As a result, his ability to make plays during his first NFL preseason game aided the defense. 

"It was fun. I thought it is a good thing, but it feels easier than practice, honestly," said Campbell, after the Lions defeated the Giants at Ford Field. "And I really respect that about this organization. And I just had a lot of fun out there. So, that’s like the main thing that I kind of focused on was have fun with my teammates and just play fast."

At practice, the young linebacker is learning that quarterbacks and NFL offenses are quite precise and signal-callers have the ability to put the football wherever they want. 

When asked if his 'Welcome to the NFL' had occurred yet, Detroit's first-round picked indicated he had many, just due to having to work against Ben Johnson's offense on a daily basis. 

Additional reading: Should Lions Jared Goff Sit Entire Preseason?

"There's been a lot of, I mean, I just feel like in practice right now, we're just getting getting to go against really good competition, especially our offensive line and how they operate," said Campbell. "I'm trying to think of it like a specific moment. Maybe. I would say like my 'Welcome to the NFL' moment was when Tom Kennedy -- it was like earlier in the year, he caught a ball on me. And just how precise the quarterbacks are and how precise like receivers are just being able to throw it on the back shoulder. 

"For me as a linebacker, like the college level, I feel like not a lot of people can do that. But now that I'm here, like we are getting an opportunity to go up against Jared Goff, (Nate) Sudfeld and Adrian Martinez. They can put the ball wherever they want, so that'll be a challenge," Campbell continued. "But, that's something that I'm looking forward to. I feel like the joint practices were good. Good to just kind of get your feet, dip your toes in the water."