Undrafted Lions rookie says 'jobs not finished' despite big praise from Dan Campbell

On Tuesday Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell was asked abotu how many roster spots were left on the team at the moment. He said five or six and then out of nowhere he started talking about undrafted rookie Isaac Ukwu.

"I told the team this morning, you know, for a number of those guys that, man, there's still open spots here. And so if you want it, go get it. I mean, I just bring up a guy like Ukwu, man, you know, when he got here in the spring, he was last on the depth chart. It was, well, where can this guy play, he's not the biggest guy, but it's not really a SAM. Is he a defensive end? Is he and and he's just steadily gotten better and better and better. And he plays much bigger than he is. He plays longer than his length says. So every time you give him an opportunity, he just shows up. So, you know, he's, there's, he's just an example of some guys we got our eyes on, you know. So there's, there's still some spots available here."

That's the exact type of praise you want to get from your head coach at this juncture. You're a guy trying to make a team after not getting drafted. That's one of the hardest things to do in this league and you're getting the praise from the one guy that can make sure your dream comes true.

I talked with Ukwu about Campbell's comments after practice on Wednesday and he was blown away by them, but understands that they're just words right now.

"Obviously, it's amazing to hear that, honestly, I mean, to be reassured with the hard work you've been putting in is really great." Ukwu said. "But honestly, job's not finished you know? It's like, you never know. I can't let that get to my head and make me think and get comfortable, or complacent or anything like that. I got to go out there and still take it and earn it. So that's really the mindset. I'm going to keep going like I'm the last person on the depth chart, because that's what got me to where I am right now. So I just got to keep working like that, trying to improve every day and learn from the guys above me, and even some of the guys who maybe have not played a lot, but still have insight on what it is to be in the league and how to get better and better each day."

Ukwu is absolutely right. He can't let up. There is one more preseason game on Saturday and that represents one more chance to show everything you got before cuts start to come in right afterwards and up until 4 P.M. ET on August 27th.

In asked Ukwu what the one thing is that he thinks he needs to do in that game to make sure he can nail down a spot on the roster.

"I feel like I gotta make it look like a mismatch. Honestly, I gotta make it look like the people I'm going against don't belong on the field with me and dominate physically and with my effort, with my motor. I think that's the biggest thing to make it, so that I got to make it so that they can't cut me. And that's what the coaches been saying since the beginning. Just make it so that they can't cut you. They know if they cut you, someone else going to scoop you up right away. So that's really what I've been trying to do. I got to go crazy and put everybody on notice."

Judging by his first two preseason games, he shouldn't have any problem doing that.

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