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Prided like a Lion: Jeff Okudah’s standouts in the Lions defense
The Lions’ defense, ravaged by injuries, needed a hero, and Jeff Okudah delivered. Against the 49ers on Monday, he recorded two interceptions, including two crucial picks that led to Lions touchdowns. The second one, late in the game, sealed the win for the Lions.
Okudah’s impressive performance is part of a season that’s exceeded expectations. In his third year, he’s booted up his pick total, now with nine, one more than he recorded in his first two seasons combined. He’s also set a career high in pass breakups, with 12, and is just five shy of his career high in tackles.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell praised Okudah, saying, “I’m proud of him. He came up big. He came up in a big way. Not just the picks, but he had some critical tackles in this game and just really showed up for us. That was big.”
With many key defenders on injured reserve, the Lions’ defense relies heavily on players like Okudah to step up. His production is a testament to his determination to be great, not just good. As he put it, “I don’t want to be no average Joe. I want to be great. I want to be able to say, yeah, I deserve that gold jacket one day, so I feel like every year I just keep getting better, keep getting better. I don’t think I’m ever gonna stop.”