The Detroit Lions heartbreakingly concluded their remarkable season. However, it’s time to focus on the future. In the upcoming two weeks, MLive will provide evaluations for every position group of the team. Today: Ball carriers. Earlier: Quarterbacks.
Beginning player: David Montgomery
Substitutes: Jahmyr Gibbs, Craig Reynolds, Justin Jefferson, Sione Vaki
Key Stats: The Lions’ ground game fell a bit in league rankings against other teams, yet their total output and effectiveness on the field enhanced.
Detroit concluded the season with a total of 2,488 rushing yards, averaging 146.6 yards per game. They finished second in rushing touchdowns with 29, which is two more than the previous season but three less than the top-ranked Buffalo Bills, who scored 32.
David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs underwent a slight role reversal in their production this season. Gibbs had an impressive year, accumulating 1,412 rushing yards — placing fifth in the league — while Montgomery ended with 775 yards due to his season being cut short by an MCL injury.
Gibbs also topped the league with 20 total touchdowns and shared the lead for rushing touchdowns with Baltimore’s Derrick Henry and Buffalo’s James Cook, each recording 16.
Kory’s Score: A
Overview: The Detroit Lions’ offense had a wealth of talent due to MVP-caliber performance by Jared Goff, being shielded by one of the league’s top offensive lines, and featuring players like Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Sam LaPorta — and why not, let’s include Tim Patrick in the equation as well.
The duo of running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, who demonstrated great effectiveness last season, was simply excessive. Combined, they transformed the Lions’ offense into a modern take on the “Greatest Show on Turf” (look it up, kids).
Although they dropped in NFL rushing yards rankings, the Lions statistically made progress in their second season with Montgomery and Gibbs. They sprinted for additional yards and reached the end zone more frequently. The Lions have set a franchise record with 29 rushing touchdowns this season, surpassing last year’s 27, as Montgomery and Gibbs totaled 28 of those touchdowns.
The Lions also achieved their best single-season rushing total since 1997.
Like the previous season, Montgomery played in 14 games but was once more hindered by injuries. An MCL injury sidelined him for the last three games, resulting in a total of 775 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. Although he played the same number of games as last year, Montgomery recorded 63 fewer snaps (390) compared to the prior season.
The decrease in workload can primarily be credited to Gibbs’ exceptional year. In the 14 contests he participated in with Montgomery, Gibbs accumulated 1,047 rushing yards and scored 11 touchdowns. After Montgomery was sidelined, Gibbs stepped in as the primary back and excelled, demonstrating he could manage a full workload.
To finish the season, Gibbs recorded three straight games with a minimum of 109 rushing yards and scored five additional touchdowns. He concluded as a top-five runner and among the league’s leading scorers on the field. Gibbs also achieved franchise history, becoming one of the only Lions players alongside Barry Sanders to accumulate 1,700 scrimmage yards and 17 touchdowns in one season.
As Montgomery and Gibbs divided the workload efficiently, both were on track to exceed 1,000 rushing yards — an unusual achievement for a backfield pair. Nevertheless, Gibbs and Montgomery were merely paired together to each achieve over 775 yards.
Anticipating such friendship among players is not simple. In November, Lions head coach Dan Campbell acknowledged Montgomery’s selflessness as a key factor in their success together.
“(Montgomery) is entering as a free agent, and I believe he aims to establish his own identity initially,” Campbell stated. “That’s crucial, like, ‘Hey dude, these people are risking something for me.'” During free agency, he aims to demonstrate his value and inform us, ‘Hey, what you signed for is — you’re going to witness and more.’
“He is eager to assist, and he prioritizes — it genuinely reflects a team-first attitude.” He would be completely honest with those individuals, and if it meant he wouldn’t score but someone else did for our victory, he fully supports it. It isn’t simple to set your ego aside. I’ll say this: he has been an incredible asset for our team. He suits us perfectly. I’m really grateful we brought him here. “That turned out well.”
As we approach the upcoming season, it will be intriguing to observe how the Lions handle their dynamic pair. Montgomery demonstrated respect towards Gibbs later in the year, permitting him to assume the role of the primary running back. Although the split carries were effective, could Detroit rely even more on Gibbs?
The Lions are also confronted with important choices concerning depth. Craig Reynolds, a restricted free agent, has proven to be a dependable asset, raising his yards per carry to 4.5 this year. Jermar Jefferson, a free agent with exclusive rights, showcased promise in few chances following Montgomery’s injury.
Detroit might consider enhancing the third running back position in free agency or offering rookie Sione Vaki an opportunity to take on the role next season.