Lions Place Theo Riddick On IR

The Lions already ruled Theo Riddick out of a potential elimination game on Sunday night, but if the team advances to the playoffs, it won’t have its top healthy running back’s services.

Detroit placed Riddick on IR to end his season, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. He’s missed the past three games with a wrist injury and will now have a full offseason to recover from the malady. The Lions signed wide receiver Jace Billingsley off their practice squad, Michael Rothstein reports.

Should the Lions either beat the Packers or receive help with a Redskins loss, they will have to use their backup running backs in the playoffs. Zach Zenner, Dwayne Washington and the recently re-signed Joique Bell represent the Lions’ backfield contingent heading into their pivotal Week 17 contest.

The recently extended Riddick finished his fourth season with 728 yards from scrimmage. Following Ameer Abdullah‘s early-season injury, the former passing-down back became the Lions’ top ground option. Riddick’s career-high 357 rushing yards still lead the team despite the 25-year-oldĀ back playing in just 10 games.

Last month, a report pointing to a possible Abdullah return emerged. Nothing has transpired on that front since. Both Zenner and Washington have amassed 265 rushing yards this season for a Lions rushing attack that ranks 30th, but Zenner is averaging 3.9 yards per carry compared to the rookie’s 2.9.

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