Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell names Jeff Okudah starter for Week 1

It’s been a long road back for former Ohio State Buckeye Jeff Okudah. The former No. 3 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft missed all but one game last year with a torn Achilles but returned this season and impressed his coaches enough to earn a starting role with the Detroit Lions. The franchise’s head coach, Dan Campbell, told reporters on Sunday evening that Okudah has played well enough to earn a starting spot for the Lions in their Week 1 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, according to Ari Meirov of Pro Football Focus.

The former Buckeye will start opposite of the Lions other starting corner, Amani Oruwariye. Okudah beat out Will Harris for the starting defensive back spot.

It’s been a long, load road back for Jeff Okudah

Multiple injuries plagued him his rookie season, and then the torn Achilles changed everything during Week 1 of his sophomore season.

Now, Okudah is hoping to finally find his footing as he enters Year 3 of his NFL journey.

“I just had big hopes for that last year,” Okudah said via the team’s website. “It kind of felt like I was living a nightmare.”

While the disappointment was evident, there’s good news — Lions head coach Dan Campbell has no worries when it comes to Okudah in 2022.

“We’re not worried about Jeff’s movement skills,” Campbell said. “Like, he’s going to be able to move. You watch him, with his footwork and the things that he’s doing, he can do all that.

“That is real important right now, is just continuing his growth mentally and him being able to get the walkthrough reps and just to get the film study. Those things are big for him right now. So, it’s good to have him here, to have him available to do that. When the time’s right, to go full speed when we get him in camp, he’ll be ready.”

Moreover, Okudah isn’t short on confidence either. According to the former Ohio State star, he picked the brains of athletes who have dealt with the same disappointing injury he’s returning from.

“They just kind of gave me the confidence that, you know, the Achilles will be the least of your worries,” Okudah said. “It will be about getting back mentally, taking care of the rest of your body. For me, that was really reassuring going into the process.”

As he gets back onto the football field, Jeff Okudah is ready to prove to the football world why he was once a top three overall selection in the draft.

“I feel like I’ve been hungry like I haven’t ate in years,” Okudah said. “That hunger has just been inside of me since the injury. Really, even before the injury, so I’ve had that feeling, man, it’s about to be two years. Just that hunger.

“So, I’m ready to go out there and just play to the best of my ability.”

On3’s Stephen Samra also contributed to this article.