Marcus Davenport has been one of the early standouts from training camp, and the Detroit Lions have a lot of faith in him.
While conversations remain about whether the Detroit Lions will add to their defensive line room, one thing remains consistent: the team’s faith in Marcus Davenport.
This team has been singing Davenport’s praises ever since they signed him to a one-year deal last year. And they’re back at it again now. Take, for example, coach Dan Campbell’s answer to a question on Sirius XM about seeing Aidan Hutchinson back on the field after his leg injury in 2024.
“You talk about his sight for sore eyes, and then just when you think you can’t feel any better, you see Davenport on the other side,” Campbell said. “I know it’s only three days, but boy, he looks good, too.”
Davenport has a long history with Campbell. In fact, all the way to the beginning of his NFL career, when he was drafted in the first round by the New Orleans Saints back in 2018. When Campbell was the Saints’ assistant head coach/tight ends coach, he was immediately enthralled by both his athleticism and power. It’s safe to say those feelings have transferred to Lions general manager Brad Holmes, as well.
“Marcus is the perfect person to have on the other side of Aidan in terms of his ability, how he plays the game, his length, how he can push the pocket. He’s a good athlete. He’s powerful, his style,” Holmes told SiriusXM. “All those makings, he has that. He just has had a lot of bad luck on the health front.”
Alas, that last point is the one that always comes up: Davenport’s health. Injuries have plagued his career so much that you can tell he’s sick of answering questions about them. He lasted just four games with the Vikings in 2023, and only two with Detroit last year. He’s yet to play 16 games in a season, and it just seems like bad luck follows him wherever he goes.
“I don’t really like it when people talk about me anymore, good or bad,” Davenport said on Tuesday. “Shoot, I’ve got to hold a chip on my shoulder, and then with every good thing, shoot, the next day people be coming after me anyways. So if people can leave me alone and let me just work, I’ll be happy.”
The Lions admit that injury luck is sometimes just fate. There’s not much anyone can do to control or stop it. But Davenport has teamed up with the medical staff this offseason to do everything they can to develop a plan to try to work the odds in their favor. And if it works, the Lions could be in business.
“It’s not always in your hands, and that’s the name of the game,” Campbell said. “And that’s circumstances. That’s the way it goes. But if he does stay healthy, oh yeah, he can do it. Yeah. There’s no question. He’s gonna give us everything we’re looking for and then some on the other side of Hutch. So what I know is he’s put everything in to coming back, being stronger, being more stable, do everything he can to reduce that risk of injury.”
Over on SiriusXM, Hutchinson has even offered his services to help keep Davenport on the field this year.
“I’m gonna try to give him as many holistic approaches as I can to keep him healthy this year.”
Here’s hoping it all works.