Lions running back David Montgomery, center, rushes against the Minnesota Vikings in Detroit on Sunday. (AP photo)

NFL coaches are part of a highly competitive fraternity and empathy is rarely expressed publicly among them.

Dan Campbell, though, feels for Dan Quinn.

Quinn said it was his mistake that Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels was playing in the fourth quarter of their latest lopsided loss when he dislocated his left elbow.

“I know hindsight, all this and that, but yeah, I do feel for him,” Campbell said. “But I don’t feel like he should have to feel that way.”

The Campbell-led Detroit Lions (5-3) won’t be feeling sorry for anyone, though, when they visit Washington on Sunday because they need a win to keep pace in the NFC North and among potential contenders in the conference.

The Commanders (3-6) are expected to be accommodating.

Detroit is an eight-point road favorite, according to BetMGM Sportsbook, against a team that has lost four straight and won’t have its star quarterback.

Quinn acknowledged Daniels should not have been playing midway through the fourth quarter Sunday night, when the Commanders were down 31 points to Seattle in a game they lost 38-14. The reigning AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, who led Washington to an upset at Detroit in last season’s playoffs, was tackled near the goal line, and when he used his non-throwing arm to brace himself, the elbow bent gruesomely.

“That’s on me,” Quinn said.

Marcus Mariota, the No. 2 overall draft pick a decade ago, will make his fourth start in place of Daniels. In five games this season, Mariota has as many touchdown passes (four) as interceptions.

Stock watch

The Lions trailed only Kansas City in odds to win the Super Bowl after their last win, 24-9 over the NFC South-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Expectations took a hit after Detroit’s sloppy performance in a 27-24 loss to Minnesota.

“We were the greatest thing since sliced bread, and now we are a horrible offense apparently,” Lions quarterback Jared Goff said. “It comes and goes.”

Standing pat

The Lions chose to show confidence in their roster, and practice squad, instead of giving up draft picks at the trade deadline to acquire help for their banged-up offensive line or to bolster depth at defensive end.

“You know your own guys,” Campbell said. “You’ve been around them. You’ve seen them. You know the greatness behind them. You know their warts, too.”

Bounce back

Detroit has another opportunity to show it can bounce back from a loss better than any other NFL team.

The Lions have not lost two straight in the regular season since dropping five in a row from Sept. 25-Oct. 30, 2022, and no other team in the league has an active streak that is close to their run.

“It’s all kind of who we are and what we’re built for,” Goff said. “Now again, this is another team that’s coming off a loss and they probably pride themselves in being built that way as well, so we’ve got our hands full.”

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl