After a breakout stretch to end his 2022 rookie season (eight sacks over seven games), a fractured ankle cost James Houston most of last season. That injury-forced mulligan eventually yielded the Lions putting a halt to the plan to make Houston into a SAM linebacker this preseason.
A knee injury cost Houston the second preseason game, then a sack in the preseason finale was (apparently) enough to get him a spot on the 53-man roster. But there have been immediate and ongoing questions about Houston's status, only bolstered by his being a healthy scratch in two of three games so far. In Week 2, the game he played, he was on the field for a "blink and you missed them" three defensive snaps.
Marcus Davenport suffered what head coach Dan Campbell confirmed is a season-ending injury in Week 3 against the Arizona Cardinals. Reports have said it's an elbow injury or a torn triceps, but the end result is the same.
Dan Campbell says it all about James Houston in wake of Marcus Davenport injury
Campbell made his weekly appearance on 97.1 The Ticket's "Costa and Jansen with Heather" on Tuesday morning. The long list of injuries coming off Sunday's game was an easy topic, and who would get an opportunity with Davenport out was easily interlaced in the conversation about his injury.
Josh Paschal is in line for an increased role, but Campbell was asked if there's a chance we see a little more of Houston.
"Well, don't know that yet. I would tell you this, Paschal's gonna take on a much bigger load...he and 'Hutch' are your ends. Levi's gonna need to do some of that, which he did in training camp. There's a good chance....we could bring somebody up off the vet squad, or the practice squad."
"Houston could be a candidate."
Houston was brought back to the forefront of the conversation after Campbell talked about the broader situation regarding how Davenport will be replaced.
Campbell was asked point-blank where Houston needs to do in order to make an impact like he did as a rookie,
"Man I think, he just keeps working. There again, so much of it is who do you sit, if he comes, you know. Everybody that we have up right now is playing at a pretty high level on defense. And they have a role, between defense and special teams. So, that's kinda where it's been. As long as he just keeps working, and when he gets his opportunity make the most of them-as with any player here."
Campbell previously talked about how hard Houston is working. When Davenport was in line to miss Week 2 with a groin injury, Campbell left Houston out of his response regarding who could fill the void for that game. Houston's "opportunity" then was the aforementioned three snaps.
Campbell seemed reticent to talk about Houston specifically when sort of pressed about him on Tuesday morning, and we know if he had real praise to offer he wouldn't hold it back. Highlighting the fact Houston is "working", while saying nothing else, isn't genuine praise.
Davenport's absence for the rest of the season is theoretically a clear opportunity for Houston, maybe even a "now or never" kind of thing. Based on what Campbell said Tuesday morning, it might be never as the Lions give an opportunity to those who are earning it more.