Sports

Jack Campbell on NFL's punch-out crackdown: I'm going to keep punching

Lions linebacker Jack Campbell said he will not change the way he plays.

Campbell was highlighted by the NFL in a memo it sent to teams about punch-outs, warning defenders to avoid punching the ball carrier when trying to punch the ball out.

"I don’t know how many people have played in an NFL game, but when you’re going full speed and you’re trying to get the ball out, punch-outs are hard to come by. So, I don’t really care," Campbell said Friday, via Will Burchfield of 97.1 The Ticket. "I’m going to keep punching, and if I miss it, 'f' it. Screw it."

Campbell said the NFL intends to call personal fouls on punch-outs that miss the football and instead hit the ball carrier.

"So, I’ll probably have 150 personal fouls by the end of the year, so that’ll be fun," Campbell said.

The punch-out was made popular by former defensive back Charles Tillman, with his "Peanut Punch" helping him to a ridiculous 44 forced fumbles in 13 NFL seasons.

The Lions have forced seven fumbles this season, one off the NFL lead. Campbell had a strip-sack of Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and a punch-out against Bengals running back Chase Brown.

"They just got mad at me for punching somebody," Campbell said of the NFL highlighting him in the memo. "But, I mean, they got pads on. If anything, it hurt my hand more than the other guy."

Bengals DC Al Golden hopes CB Cam Taylor-Britt can "turn the page" after benching

Cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt was inactive for the Bengals in Thursday night's win over the Steelers, which was the latest sign of how far he's fallen out of the team's plans.

Taylor-Britt started 38 of his 39 games with the team before this season and played a major role in the first two weeks this year before a hamstring injury kept him out of Week 3. He played 27 snaps in his first two games back and had a rough outing against the Packers in Week 6 before being scratched on Thursday.

On Friday, defensive coordinator Al Golden said he hopes that Taylor-Britt uses this as a moment to get himself back on track.

"I would love nothing more [than] for him to respond and go on a great run here," Golden said, via Ben Baby of ESPN.com. "I enjoy being around Cam. I really want the best for him, and I really hope that he has an opportunity here to really turn the page and come out of this thing really, really good here over the next half of the season."

D.J. Turner and Dax Hill started at corner against the Steelers. Turner had an interception of Aaron Rodgers in the 33-31 victory.

Khalil Mack listed as questionable for Chargers vs. Colts; Joe Alt doubtful

Chargers offensive tackle Joe Alt, left, and linebacker Khalil Mack.
Chargers offensive tackle Joe Alt, left, likely will not play Sunday against the Colts, but there's a chance outside linebacker Khalil Mack, right, could return from an elbow injury. (Maddie Meyer / Getty Images; Rick Scuteri / Associated Press)

Khalil Mack unspooled his elbow wrap and removed his brace as he spoke to reporters Thursday for the first time since sustaining his injury last month. Does Mack, the Chargers' star outside linebacker, believe he can play Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts?

“For sure,” he said.

That will ultimately be up to general manager Joe Hortiz and coach Jim Harbaugh, Mack said. The 34-year-old, in his fourth season with the Chargers, said he’s “slightly ready to go” if his number is called upon, just days after his 21-day activation window opened Tuesday.

Read more:Chargers' Cameron Dicker at the forefront of a redefining era for NFL kickers

Mack was listed as questionable Friday, along with wide receiver Derius Davis, linebacker Troy Dye, offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer and linebacker Denzel Perryman. Running back Hassan Haskins also was listed as questionable after practicing all week.

Offensive tackle Joe Alt (ankle) was listed as doubtful for Sunday. Alt practiced Thursday and Friday.

“I'm not going to say I can or can't,” Alt said Wednesday when asked whether he’d play. “We’re just going to continue to progress and see where it means for me going forward."

Defensive back Elijah Molden (thumb) did not practice all week and was also listed as doubtful. Wide receiver Quentin Johnston (hamstring) is set to play after missing last week's win over the Miami Dolphins.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

More Articles …

  1. 49ers place WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling on injured reserve
  2. Khalil Mack questionable, Joe Alt doubtful for Chargers-Colts
  3. Packers rule out DL Devonte Wyatt, Lukas Van Ness for Sunday's game
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