Lions Fans Are Losing Their Minds Over Nothing
Dan Campbell announced that Kerby Joseph, Sam LaPorta, and Brian Branch were in the building but wouldn’t be practicing during OTAs. Cue the panic. Cue the immediate spiral into worst-case scenarios. Cue Lions fans doing what Lions fans do best: assuming the absolute worst possible outcome from the most innocent possible news.
Look, I get it. We’ve been hurt before. Hell, we’ve been hurt so many times that our default setting is catastrophic thinking. But this time, you’re freaking out over absolutely nothing.
What OTAs Actually Are (Spoiler Alert: Not Much)
Organized Team Activities are basically football in pajamas. They’re voluntary. They’re low intensity. There’s no contact, no tackling, no blocking, no pass rushing. Players run routes at half speed while coaches install plays and everyone pretends this matters more than it does.
Campbell called it exactly what it is: a pajama party. He refused to hype anyone during this time period because there’s literally nothing to hype. These guys are jogging around, running drills, and sitting in meetings. That’s it.
Campbell put it perfectly: “That’s not the priority, and it’s not worth all that anyway. The most important thing is continue to let them improve, rehab, all that, that’ll take precedence, right now. So they’re in meetings, you know, they’re getting the mental side of this, and just take it day to day.”
When You Should Actually Worry
Training camp starts in late July. That’s when things get real. If Joseph, LaPorta, and Branch are still sitting out then, or if they start camp on the PUP list, then sure, we can revisit the panic button.
But right now? You’re losing sleep over guys missing glorified walkthroughs. The mandatory minicamp is slightly more serious, but even that’s just a week. None of this matters until the pads come on and the real work begins.
These three players are getting the mental side of the game while they heal up from whatever minor issues are keeping them out of practice. They’re in meetings. They’re learning the system. They’re doing everything that actually matters during this pajama party phase of the offseason.
Save your energy for something that actually deserves it. Like wondering if our offensive line can keep Jared Goff upright for a full season. You know, the stuff that actually matters.
Are you ready to admit you overreacted, or are you doubling down on the doom spiral? Let me know in the comments below.
