Head coach Dan Campbell shed some light on that choice during his Wednesday press conference, explaining that while a few potential trade scenarios came up late, none of them were compelling enough to pursue.“There were a few things that came up after I spoke to you guys,” Campbell said. “Some were a little interesting, but nothing really stood out or made sense for us. So, we’re good — we’re ready to roll.”
Rather than making a trade, the Lions executed two smaller roster moves shortly after the deadline passed, parting ways with tight end Kenny Yeboah and offensive lineman Justin Herron, both of whom had been on injured reserve since August 10.
When asked about the team’s quiet approach, Campbell emphasized that his trust in the current roster outweighed any potential benefits of bringing in an outsider.“You know your own guys — you’ve seen their best moments and their flaws,” Campbell explained. “As long as they’re continuing to develop, our confidence in them grows. It’s not always perfect, but we believe in them until they show us otherwise.”
The coach also noted the advantage of familiarity, saying that adding a new player this late in the season means starting from square one — learning a new system, building chemistry, and understanding the culture.
Historically, that conservative mindset around the trade deadline was common in the NFL. Only in recent years has the league begun to mirror other major sports, where teams frequently make bold, last-minute deals.
Still, Campbell made it clear that his decision wasn’t about rejecting that modern trend — it was simply that, this year, no available player justified making a move.
