A 2023 first-round draft pick and one of the pillars of the revamped Detroit Lions defense, Jack Campbell has established his reputation on the basis of toughness and reliability. But on Monday night against the Baltimore Ravens, the 25-year-old was part of a bizarre and painful experience that left him needing a consultation with a plastic surgeon.

It happened in the 38-30 win by Detroit in Week 3. Campbell tried to assist a teammate on the field. In doing so, he took an accidental cleat from Brian Branch, his teammate, right in his mouth, tearing the inside of his lip. He had a mouth laceration, tore his lips open, and there was a lot of bleeding, but he was set on finishing the game.

“Yeah. I got kicked in the face. I was trying to just help him up,” Jack Campbell explained while addressing the media. “He said sorry, but it’s not his fault. I was just trying to help him up. And now I’m like gonna rethink helping people up. I think they can help themselves up.” Joking about how he has to be selfish in order to be healthy and injury-free.

What started as a minor cut then turned into a more serious medical issue. Campbell described how, when he was playing, he thought that he bit his tongue, only to learn later that the bleeding would not stop. “Then I got over the sideline, and the trainer’s like, ‘Let’s go to the tent.’ And I’m like, ‘Ah, that’s not good.’ And then I felt like them pushing the skin together, and it felt really weird,” he recalled.

After the game, when he finally saw himself in the mirror, he realized it was “really disgusting.” Campbell still played all 57 snaps for the defensive unit and accounted for eight tackles in total, one sack, one forced fumble, and a massive fourth-down stop. His effort clinched a key early-season victory over the Ravens.

Campbell has emerged as the Lions’ top tackler since the time he entered Detroit and compiled 131 total tackles during 2024, 10 tackles for loss, three and a half sacks, six pass deflections, and one forced fumble. Through the first three games of 2025, Campbell is once more the team’s top tackler with 26 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, and one tackle for loss.

By Pro Football Focus’ 90.3 run defense grade, sixth best among all linebackers, his reliability is not called into question.

Campbell’s humor and Grit

Following practice on Wednesday, Campbell spoke to the media about the stitches, a grin, and a sharp spin on events this time.  “Probably the first in the whole Campbell lineage of my family to see a plastic surgeon. So, I’m disappointed in that, but yeah, they did a good job. They got it fixed,” Campbell joked. “I’m not going to be able to live that down with my brothers,” he chuckled, according to ESPN’s Eric Woodyard.

The injury was so severe that Campbell had to see a plastic surgeon to stitch it up. He thinks it took roughly nine stitches because the hole in his upper lip was big enough for him to stick his tongue through.

He also recalled a childhood incident — in high school basketball, he cut his head open, and the moment felt like déjà vu. He continued, ” I mean, there’s a video like of me in high school with this headband on and people thought it was like a headband I was wearing.’’

On the other hand, the Lions have struggled to maintain their defensive identity since coordinator Aaron Glenn departed. They currently rank 22nd against the run (99 yards per game), 15th against the pass (208.7 yards per game), and tied for 13th in takeaways (three). Campbell has been an exception to all this upheaval.

Although he did play the whole Ravens game, the coaches for Detroit were very careful with his return throughout the week. His toughness is getting him praise from coaches, but the team is being cautious as the season goes along.

If Campbell continues to play like this, the Lions’ defense will be relying on him even more as they continue to strive to close the gap with the NFC’s best. And although he might “rethink helping people up” on the field, his loyalty to Detroit is never in doubt.