Lions’ Dan Campbell shouts out unsung training camp star that he ‘can’t ignore’

The Detroit Lions are grinding it out in training camp to prepare for the 2026 NFL season. Last year did not go nearly as well as Detroit wanted it to. At one point, it felt like they were still NFC contenders. But Dan Campbell watched as his team imploded and missed the playoffs altogether.

This is a crucial season for the Lions, who have a somewhat new look. Players such as Taylor Decker, Terrion Arnold, and Alex Anzalone are no longer with the team. Some unsung heroes will need to step up. And Campbell took time to shout out one of them, cornerback Nick Whiteside, on Tuesday.

“You can’t ignore him. … Here’s what I love about (Whiteside): it is not too big for him. He doesn’t care who’s across from him. He will compete,” the Lions head coach said, via Nolan Bianchi of The Detroit News.

Whiteside did have a chance to shine at times during the 2025 season. One particular case comes from the team’s Monday Night Football win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last year. Whitesde made plays all over the field and was a major reason a then-depleted defense stood tall.

The Saginaw Valley product played in a total of nine games last year due to injuries on the Lions defense. He recorded five total tackles and three passes defended in that time. With turnover in Detroit’s corner room, he has a chance to play a meaningful role in 2026.

It appears he is making a good impression already. If he can keep things up in training camp, he will put himself in a good position when the NFL season kicks off in September.