Free agent running back Justin Forsett will visit with the Lions tomorrow, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). Forsett has had an interesting start to the 2016 campaign, as he was released by the Ravens as part of the team’s final cut-down to a 53-man roster before re-signing with Baltimore just two days later (for the same term and salary that he had remaining on his old contract). It became apparent at that time that the two sides had a prearranged agreement that allowed the Ravens to put several other players on IR with a designation to return while assuring Forsett that he would return to the club.
But Forsett struggled mightily as the team’s feature back during the first three weeks of the season, managing just 98 yards on 31 carries. He lost his starting job to Terrance West last week, and West enjoyed a strong outing, posting 113 yards and a score on 21 carries. Between West’s emergence and the impending return of rookie Kenneth Dixon, who was the team’s most dynamic back in training camp and in the preseason before suffering an injury that forced him to miss the first four weeks of the regular season, Forsett became expendable.
The Lions, through, are very thin at the running back position, as starter Ameer Abdullah was put on IR earlier this year and rookie Dwayne Washington is also dealing with injury problems. At 31, Forsett does not appear to have much left in the tank, even though he did not become a full-time starter until his surprising breakout campaign with the Ravens in 2014. However, he is still a strong pass protector and offers some ability as a receiver out of the backfield, so he could be a useful third-down back in Detroit.
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