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    What Dan Campbell said about Lions plan to replace Aidan Hutchinson

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    The Detroit Lions have begun evaluating potential trade options to replace Aidan Hutchinson, but Lions coach Dan Campbell said Monday his team doesn’t need to make a move to win the Super Bowl.

    “Yeah. I mean, listen, my job is to coach what’s here and I’m going to coach the hell out of them, and we do that as a staff,” Campbell said. “And so, yeah, I do (think we can win with what we have). And if we get someone, great. If we don’t, these are our guys. And the coaches know that. This is where we have ended up in camps, this is why we develop talent, and it’s the next man up and they have to be ready to go.

    Hutchinson, who leads the NFL with 7½ sacks, broke the tibia and fibula in his left leg during the Lions’ 47-9 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday and is expected to miss the remainder of the season.

    He is the third Lions edge defender to suffer a potentially season-ending injury in the past month. Defensive end Marcus Davenport tore his triceps in a Week 3 win over the Arizona Cardinals and is out for the season, and outside linebacker Derrick Barnes injured his knee in the same game and could miss the rest of the year.

    The Lions rotated the linebacker personnel to accommodate Barnes’ absence, moving Alex Anzalone to strong-side linebacker and using Malcolm Rodriguez in Anzalone’s role as their primary weak-side linebacker. And Josh Paschal made his first start of the season in place of Davenport on Sunday.

    BIRKETT: Brad Holmes owes it to Super Bowl-contending Lions to add DE after Aidan Hutchinson’s injury

    Campbell said for now the Lions are counting on a host of internal options to replace Hutchinson, but are open to help from outside the organization.

    “This comes up every year, and it’s not like general manager Brad Holmes doesn’t look good,” Campbell said. “So he’s doing what he did, he’s searching. Is there anyone who can possibly help us? What’s it going to cost? And so those things are always going to come up, but just because that’s there doesn’t mean we’re going to do it . And if it is, it must be good.”

    Paschal has played well the past two games in Davenport’s absence, and linebacker Trevor Nowaske and practice squad call-up Isaac Ukwu finished the game defensively on Sunday. Nowaske had his first career sack, while Ukwu had two tackles in 36 snaps.

    Campbell insisted he has “a lot of confidence” in the ability of the Lions’ entire defensive line to fill Hutchinson’s void. And he said the team will take time to evaluate its internal options before making a trade.

    “Honestly, where we are right now, we’re in no rush,” he said. “I mean, I believe in the guys that are here. I believe in that D-line. That doesn’t mean we don’t watch, that we don’t evaluate. Brad does, that’s his job and he’s good at it and we We taking it as it comes, but our eyes are open and we want to make sure we have what we need here.”

    ‘Our crew’

    Campbell suppressed some emotion Monday when asked if he would receive a game ball for Sunday’s win over quarterback Jared Goff’s Cowboys.

    Campbell, who played tight end for the Cowboys from 2003 to 2005, awarded Goff a game ball in the locker room for his 315-yard, three-touchdown passing day, but Goff gave it back and called Campbell “our (squeaky rock).

    “Listen, I love those guys,” Campbell said. “I love our players, they’re the best and I appreciate that. And the coaching staff and everyone. But look, it’s not like I’m the only one from Texas. (Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn is) from Texas, there’s a Brock Wright, so that was a great team effort. Listen, man, I love those guys and I wouldn’t trade them for anyone right now.

    Dave Birkett will sign copies of his new book, “Detroit Lions: An Illustrated Timeline” at 7 p.m., Oct. 21, at 24 Seconds Bar & Grill in Berkley, and from 5:30-7 p.m., Oct. 22 at Stadium Cards & Comics in Ypsilanti. Order your copy here.

    Contact Dave Birkett at [email protected]. Follow him on X and Instagram on @davebirkett.

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