Total Breakdown: Dan Campbell broke down in tears when he broke the awful news about this important player and provided a heartbreaking update.
Due to circumstances beyond his control, Derrick Barnes, the MVP of the Detroit Lions‘ divisional playoff victory, was hardly present on the field for Sunday’s NFC championship game.
In Sunday’s 34-31 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, Barnes—who had the game-winning interception in the win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers previous week—sustained a right knee injury during his third defensive play.
“It hurts a lot for me cause you see these guys that you’ve been busting your ass with, trading blood, sweat and tears, and you see them out there and then you just want to be out there with them so bad and help them,” Barnes stated. Not that they required it, either. They did an amazing job out there, Jack (Campbell), Malcolm (Rodriguez), and Anzo (Alex Anzalone), but it’s unfortunate because I really want to be out there on the field pushing with them. It was, well, heartbreaking, guy.”
During the 49ers’ opening drive, Barnes hurt himself by overextending his knee in an attempt to avoid colliding with Anzalone.
With caution, he left the field, had a knee brace fitted on the sidelines, and hoped and prayed he might return to the starting lineup for the remainder of the match.
“I tried literally since I got hurt until 2 minutes till the end of the game to get my knee to feel better so I could go back out there,” he stated.
During the second half of the NFC divisional round at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, January 21, 2024, Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55), along with linebackers Alex Anzalone (34) and Jalen Reeves-Maybin (42) celebrate an interception from Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield.
In Barnes’ absence, Rodriguez had his most extended playing time since the beginning of the season, splitting time between three linebacker formations with Anzalone (nine tackles) and Campbell.
The Lions led 24–7 at the half, but they gave up 27 points in a row in the second half to lose narrowly to the New England Patriots.
Despite not having a preliminary diagnosis for his injury, Barnes, who had a breakout third season with the Lions, stated he “for sure” avoided an ACL tear. After the game, he had a brace on his knee underneath his street clothes, and he has additional testing set for Monday.
GO AHEAD?Dan Campbell: “I don’t regret those decisions” in response to unsuccessful fourth-down conversions
“We had a chance to do something that Detroit hasn’t done at all,” Barnes stated. We put up a lot of effort during the season, which is unfortunate because I think we should be playing in the Super Bowl. It is undoubtedly tragic.
“I know God has a purpose, even if it’s not something I ever planned to happen to me in one of the biggest games of my life. Everything that occurs has a purpose. Hopefully it’s just a minor adjustment and nothing catastrophic, and everything is good. However, when you turn and see the boys, all of their anguish and tears—man, it’s ridiculous because we know how hard we worked during the season, but we have to go back and try even harder the next year.”
