The Detroit Lions got some rare good injury news this week. Contrary to earlier reports, star running back David Montgomery has avoided a season-ending injury and could return during the postseason, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Montgomery and the Lions spent the past few days consulting with experts about his MCL injury, hoping for a less severe diagnosis than initially feared. That hope was realized on Thursday, per Rapoport, giving Montgomery a chance to rehab and potentially rejoin the team for the playoffs.
The Lions have been plagued by injuries throughout the season, with a particularly tough stretch over the past month as multiple defensive players landed on injured reserve. Despite these setbacks, the offense has mostly remained intact. While losing Montgomery was a blow, the Lions’ high-powered offensive arsenal has helped mitigate the impact.
Since joining Detroit, Montgomery has become one of the NFL’s most prolific scorers. He wrapped up his first season with the Lions tallying 13 touchdowns (plus two more in the playoffs) and added another 12 touchdowns in 14 games this year. Although his role as a pass-catcher hit a career low in 2023, Montgomery bounced back this season with 36 receptions for 341 yards.
Even without Montgomery, the Lions are well-equipped offensively. Jahmyr Gibbs has built on his impressive rookie campaign, producing 1,442 yards from scrimmage and 14 touchdowns this season. The Lions have been cautious with Gibbs’ workload, limiting him to 20 or more rushing attempts in just one game and over 20 total touches in only four games.
With Montgomery’s potential return looming, the Lions may consider temporarily leaning more heavily on Gibbs. In the meantime, there will likely be opportunities for backups Craig Reynolds and rookie Sione Vaki to step up and contribute in the weeks ahead.
