Running back David Montgomery suffered an MCL injury during Week 15’s loss to the Buffalo Bills , becoming the latest in a seemingly endless string of Lions to suffer at the hands of the football gods. While the former Chicago Bear is getting a second opinion and hasn’t officially been ruled out for the remainder of the season, early reports indicate the team expects him to be shut down for the season. As one of four players lost to injury during Sunday’s matchup, Detroit will struggle to replace all that departed talent in the coming weeks.
Now 12-2, Detroit still holds the top seed in the NFC Playoff Picture but is dangerously close to losing homefield advantage throughout the playoffs and the NFC North crown. As things currently stand, the team is tied with the Philadelphia Eagles for the best record in the NFC and only a half-game ahead of the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC North. Detroit must find adequate replacements for all their injured starters, and a few free agent running backs stand out from the crowd.
There are people in the Lions’ organization who believe that David Montgomery will be lost for the season with his sprained MCL, but there are additional tests to go through. Either way he’s out indefinitely, if not for the season. https://t.co/goW9OE3em9
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 16, 2024
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2023 first-round pick Jahmyr Gibbs can handle a three-down workload while David Montgomery is sidelined due to injury. However, no player in the league can play 100% of the snaps, so Detroit should look for a free agent running back. Depending on how they want to utilize Gibbs, Detroit could target former Chief Jerick McKinnon or former Saint Latavius Murray.
Lions Could Target 2 Veterans After David Montgomery Injury
Through the first 14 games of the season, the Lions used Montgomery and Gibbs in identical roles. Prior to the injury, Gibbs recorded 186 carries for 1,047 yards and 11 touchdowns while adding another 39 receptions for 395 yards and three touchdowns through the air. Montgomery, meanwhile, recorded 185 carries for 775 yards and 12 touchdowns to go along with 36 receptions for 341 yards. If the Lions want to maintain this balance, they will probably target Latavius Murray.
A fourth-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, Murray began his career with the then-Oakland Raiders, the running back spent three years with the New Orleans Saints but has also played for the Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos, and most recently, the Buffalo Bills. While he’s not the Pro Bowl player he once was, the Central Florida product had a decent season in 2023. During his lone year with the Buffalo Bills , Murray recorded 300 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 79 receptions to go with 17 receptions for 119 yards.
Latavius Murray is not as good as David Montgomery and isn’t a 1:1 injury replacement. No matter who the Lions sign, Gibbs’ workload will increase. However, Murray can play on all three downs and could be a reliable rotational piece. However, if Detroit would rather sign a pass-catching specialist and leave all the early-down work to Gibbs, they could prioritize Jerick McKinnon.
More Pass-Catching Weapons
Now approaching his 33rd birthday, running back Jerick McKinnon is no longer the type of player capable of making plays between the tackles. However, his recent stint in Kansas City shows he still has a reliable set of hands. Playing in a reserve role, the former undrafted free agent recorded 512 receiving yards in 2022 and followed it up with 192 receiving yards in just 12 games in 2023.
Granted, some of his production is due to Andy Reid’s scheme . The reigning Super Bowl champion head coach is one of the best offensive minds in football and knows how to get the most out of his running backs. Fortunately, the same is true for Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson . The Lions don’t need a superstar to fill for David Montgomery as he recovers from his injury, they just need someone to keep Gibbs fresh down the stretch.
Main Photo: David Reginek – USA Today Sports
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