One unheralded Detroit Lions training camp battle has been the backup SAM linebacker position. While Derrick Barnes seems to have the starting position locked down, Detroit has been searching for a trustworthy reserve player to back up the difficult role. At the start of camp, the competition seemed to be between third-year edge defender James Houston and CFL star Mathieu Betts. However, last week, coach Dan Campbell noted that they were scaling back Betts’ work at SAM, and now it seems like they’re doing the same with Houston.
“Houston’s been hurt, we’re going to try to get him back to more defensive end, and let him play that true position to where that’s what he’s in,” Campbell said on Monday.