Texans, RB David Montgomery Agree To Upgraded Deal
The Texans have agreed to a new contract with running back David Montgomery, who arrived via trade from the Lions at the beginning of the month, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson.
Montgomery’s last deal with the Lions – signed in October 2024 – had two years and $15MM remaining with $6MM due in 2026 and no guaranteed money (via OverTheCap). The new agreement is worth $16.5MM with $10MM in guarantees, according to details obtained by Wilson.
In 2026, Montgomery will receive a $6.5MM signing bonus, a guaranteed $1.5MM salary, and up to $500k in per-game roster bonuses, an increase from his previously-set compensation of $6MM. $2MM of his $7.5MM 2027 salary is guaranteed, and he will receive another $500k in per game bonuses as well.
Montgomery’s previous contract from Detroit paid him $9.125MM per year, the 13th-highest AAV at his position. He has now dropped to 15th at $8.725MM per year, still a strong figure for a running back heding into his age-29 season.
Financially, Montgomery qualifies as Houston’s RB1, though he will likely split time with 2025 fourth-rounder Woody Marks. Marks put up 703 yards on 196 carries as a rookie and will be looking to improve on his 3.6-yard per carry mark in his sophomore campaign. Montgomery has bested those numbers in each of his seven NFL seasons and only dropped below 800 rushing yards in the last two seasons due to the arrival of Jahmyr Gibbs in Detroit. He also has 59 career rushing touchdowns, while Marks recorded just two as a rookie – though he found the end zone through the air three times.
Mutual Extension Interest Between Texans, Azeez Al-Shaair; Sheldon Rankins Re-Signing On Radar
Azeez Al-Shaair‘s reunion with DeMeco Ryans has helped the Texans become one of the NFL’s best defenses. Leading the way in EPA per play last season, Houston has a Will Anderson Jr. extension on the radar. The team is also eyeing a second Al-Shaair agreement.
The former Ryans 49ers charge is entering the final season of a three-year, $34MM contract, and KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes mutual interest in an extension is believed to exist. The Texans have already been active on the extension front, giving one-year bumps to Danielle Hunter and Dalton Schultz. A re-up would reduce Al-Shaair’s $15.24MM 2026 cap number.
[RELATED: Assessing Texans’ Offseason Outlook]
The hard-hitting linebacker would be likely to sign a multiyear extension, as opposed to the one-year deals Hunter and Schultz did. Al-Shaiir, 28, has anchored Houston’s defensive second level since signing as a free agent in 2024. Missing six games in 2024 (three due to a suspension for a hit on Trevor Lawrence), Al-Shaair tallied 103 tackles and nine passes defensed last season. Pro Football Focus ranked him 17th among linebackers.
An update to the linebacker market is expected early this week, with Devin Lloyd and Quay Walker hitting free agency. Al-Shaair is currently tied to the No. 8 off-ball linebacker AAV. Probably not a candidate to rival where Roquan Smith and ex-49ers teammate Fred Warner reside, Al-Shaair will be able to command a raise. The level Nick Bolton and Jamien Sherwood reached on this day last year ($15MM per) would seemingly be realistic.
Houston is also interested in re-signing defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, who fared better last season after struggling in Cincinnati. Part of Ryans’ defense in 2023 and ’25, Rankins scored two touchdowns last season — the second in the Texans’ wild-card rout in Pittsburgh. Rankins will turn 32 next month; he is coming off a three-sack season that featured five tackles for loss. The former first-round pick has proven a fit under Ryans, starting 17 games last season.
Elsewhere on the Texans’ defense, Wilson indicates Denico Autry has not made a retirement call yet. The 12-year veteran will turn 36 in July. Autry played in 12 games last season, recording 3.5 sacks. Autry is unsigned for 2026.
Wilson adds the Texans will likely adjust David Montgomery‘s contract soon. Houston added Montgomery before cutting Joe Mixon. Upon acquiring Mixon via trade in 2024, the Texans gave him a two-year deal worth $19.75MM. Montgomery has two years left on his Lions-designed extension (two years, $18.25MM). While Montgomery’s cap number is only $6MM, no guarantees remain on his contract. The Texans’ extension interest indicates they view this trade as more than a one-year rental.
Montgomery’s arrival points Nick Chubb out the door, and Wilson adds Christian Kirk and Christian Harris are also likely not coming back. Ed Ingram could be priced out of the Texans’ comfort zone. Despite being demoted by the Vikings before they unloaded him for a low-level trade return, Wilson adds Ingram’s price could reach $15MM per year in free agency. The Texans, who traded sporadic guard option Tytus Howard to the Browns, have shown interest in retaining Ingram but perhaps not at that price.
Lastly, the Texans made an addition to their coaching staff recently. They hired Tiquan Underwood as their assistant wide receivers coach, Wilson tweets. Underwood, a former NFL wideout, spent last season as the Cowboys’ assistant WRs coach.
Lions To Trade RB David Montgomery To Texans
The Texans are not finished on the trade front. A much-anticipated running back addition is now being lined up, with another member of their offensive line set to play elsewhere. 
David Montgomery is heading from Detroit to Houston, as first reported by Tom Pelissero, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. In return, the Lions will acquire offensive lineman Juice Scruggs, along with fourth- and seventh-round picks (h/t Pelissero). The seventh-round selection is for the 2027 draft, ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes.
Houston was Montgomery’s preferred destination, Garafolo adds. He will now take on a prominent role in the backfield as the Texans look for improvements on the ground in 2026. Schefter’s colleague Dan Graziano recently named Houston as one of the teams likely to be active in March with respect to running back additions, so today’s news comes as no surprise. Montgomery in particular is a logical target in the Texans’ case given the fact he was seeking a fresh start.
Since the end of the 2025 campaign, a Montgomery trade has been a distinct possibility. Detroit has Jahmyr Gibbs in place, and his fifth-year option is likely to be exercised. That would ensure at least two more years in the Motor City, but a long-term extension at or near the top of the RB market is expected to be pursued. Keeping Gibbs and Montgomery on lucrative deals would not have been feasible given the Lions’ other financial commitments.
Instead, Montgomery will prepare to play for a third career team in anticipation of a heavy workload. The former third-rounder averaged fewer than 12 attempts per game for the first time in his career last season. 2025 was also the first season in which he fell short of 1,000 scrimmage yards. That could soon change with the Texans set to see Nick Chubb reach free agency next week. Fellow veteran Joe Mixon missed all of 2025 through injury and has since undergone surgery. A release in his case should be expected as a result.
Woody Marks has three years remaining on his rookie contract, but bringing in a veteran to split carries with him has long been expected. Montgomery, who turns 29 in June, will be tasked with doing so. He is owed a base salary of $5.49MM in 2026 with a scheduled cap hit of $6MM. Montgomery’s pact runs through 2027, but whether or not he lands a new commitment by that point will of course depend on his performance in Houston.
The Texans’ offensive line will certainly look much different next season. Houston agreed to trade Tytus Howard to the Browns earlier today, creating a vacancy in the starting lineup. Scruggs was not a first-team presence in 2025, but losing him will ensure Houston’s depth along the interior will be altered when next season begins. One year remains on Scruggs’ rookie contract.
The former second-rounder will now look to compete for playing time in Detroit. The Lions were known to be in the market for additions at the left tackle spot but also on the inside. Scruggs, 26, has primarily played at left guard during his career but he saw notable time at center as well in 2024. The future of Graham Glasgow is uncertain at this point, and a release or retirement in his case could open to door to playing time for Scruggs ahead of free agency.
The Lions will look to improve up front in 2026 knowing a stronger O-line will go a long way in helping their offense (a unit which finished fourth in scoring this past year) become even more effective. A running back addition of some kind will be required as well, though, with Gibbs now in need of a new backfield partner.
Lions RB David Montgomery ‘Wants Out’
Back in January, it was reported that the Lions were examining what was best for the future of veteran running back David Montgomery. General manager Brad Holmes even went so far as to say that what was best may include him playing “somewhere else.” Well, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, a trade appears to be a growing possibility for the 28-year-old rusher, as Fowler claims Montgomery “wants out” of Detroit. 
Coming out of Iowa State in 2019, Montgomery enjoyed an early career as a lead back for the Bears, taking on RB1 duties in a committee that included Tarik Cohen and Cordarrelle Patterson as a rookie. In his sophomore campaign, Montgomery essentially served bell-cow duties as Chicago’s leading rusher, but ever since, he’s been forced to share the rock. In 2021, two rookies — Justin Fields and Khalil Herbert — ate heavily into his carries, resulting in the lowest rushing total of his career at that point in time. In the final year of his rookie contract, Montgomery totaled a new low (801) as Fields led the team in rushing (1,143) and Herbert continued to gain ground on him (731).
As a free agent, Montgomery signed with the division-rival Lions, who were saying goodbye to both of their leading rushers from 2022 — Jamaal Williams and D’Andre Swift. While Montgomery may have believed he had made his way back to a bell-cow situation, a month and a half later, Detroit utilized their 12th overall pick on Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs. It was right back to a split backfield for Montgomery. In their first year together, the Montgomery-Gibbs split for carries (219-182), rushing yards (1,015-945), and rushing touchdowns (13-10) were as close as you’ll see for two teammates having strong rushing seasons.
In 2024, Gibbs took over RB1 duties. Though Montgomery was still involved in one of the NFL’s most dynamic offenses that season, the Gibbs-Montgomery splits for carries (250-185), rushing yards (1,412-775), and rushing touchdowns (16-12), no longer favored him. This past season, that trend continued in the wrong direction as, for the first time in his career, Montgomery didn’t start a single game all season while recording career-lows in carries (158) and rushing yards (716).
It’s no wonder, then, that Montgomery is looking for a way out. Luckily for him, the reduced usage has likely done a fair amount of good for his 28-year-old legs, and his remaining contract is fairly reasonable for a trade partner to take on. It also doesn’t sound like Detroit is asking for much in return, as Fowler reports that the team wants “a decent Day 3 pick,” meaning probably something from the fourth or early-fifth round. It should make Montgomery fairly easy to move, and give him plenty of options, should Detroit opt to take his preference into account.
Lions Could Trade RB David Montgomery
After firing John Morton on Tuesday, the Lions are on the hunt for a new offensive coordinator. Commanders assistant quarterbacks coach (and former Lions QB) David Blough and ex-Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel have emerged as early candidates. Regardless of who lands the job, it doesn’t appear running back David Montgomery is a lock to remain among the Lions’ offensive weapons in 2026.
The 28-year-old Montgomery took on a lesser role this season, his third in Detroit. It could go down as his last in a Lions uniform. Asked about Montgomery’s future on Thursday, general manager Brad Holmes didn’t rule out an offseason trade.
“Those are discussions that we’re going to have to have a lot more in depth in terms of what is the best plan for him going forward,” Holmes said (via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press). “Is it somewhere else or whatever the case be.”
Montgomery, a 2019 third-round pick from Iowa State, spent his first four NFL seasons with the NFC North rival Bears. The Lions brought him in on a three-year, $18MM contract in March 2023.
Montgomery’s presence didn’t stop the Lions from using a first-rounder on fellow running back Jahmyr Gibbs a month and a half later. Both moves have worked out brilliantly for Detroit. The two RBs (aka “Sonic” and “Knuckles”) have formed one of the league’s top tandems during their three years together.
The electric Gibbs has established himself as the Lions’ lead back, but Montgomery has still seen plenty of action. With Ben Johnson running the offense during Montgomery’s first two years as a Lion, the 5-foot-11, 230-pounder combined for 28 games and averaged 202 carries, 908 yards and about 13 rushing touchdowns per season.
Although Montgomery posted his first career 17-game campaign in 2025, his playing time diminished with Morton and then head coach Dan Campbell calling plays. Despite recording a 4.5 YPC, Montgomery amassed single-season lows in carries (158) and yards (716). He found the end zone eight times on the ground, but that was still a four-TD drop from his 2024 output.
“He deserves to be in a situation where his skill set can be utilized,” Holmes said. “And so yeah, would love it for it to be here, but if it can’t be here, then you would have to just see what you can work out the best for him.”
Holmes isn’t under any immediate pressure to make a decision on Montgomery, who has two years left on his second Lions contract. The team awarded Montgomery a three-year, $18.25MM extension with $10.5MM in guarantees in October 2024. Montgomery’s due to count approximately $8.37MM against the Lions’ salary cap in 2026. Trading or releasing him before June 1 would leave the Lions with around $4.86MM in dead money. It would also create another hole on the roster.
Gibbs is one of the league’s premier backs, but subtracting Montgomery would leave the Lions perilously thin at the position. Quarterback Jared Goff‘s 19 rushing attempts ranked third on the team in 2025, meaning Holmes will have to find a capable replacement for Montgomery if he goes in another direction.
Lions’ Derrick Barnes, Carlton Davis Out For Season; David Montgomery To Return
JANUARY 16: Montgomery is off the Lions’ injury report altogether for their Commanders matchup. The Lions will also have Arnold ready to go for the divisional round, as the cornerback has shaken off the injury sustained in Week 18.
JANUARY 7: The Lions’ injury activation puzzle continues to come into focus. Dan Campbell shed light on some of his players on IR and those rehabbing injuries while still on the active roster. Good and bad news has emerged.
Chiefly, David Montgomery‘s dodging of a season-ending injury — the feared scenario when Detroit’s starting running back went down in Week 15 — is close to producing a return. After Montgomery took part in a full workout before the Lions’ Week 18 game, Campbell said (via the Detroit Football Network’s Justin Rogers) he expects the recently extended RB to be ready for the team’s divisional-round matchup.
Generally, when “team fears”-driven headlines surface, bad news emerges. This represents a rare positive development from that place, and the Lions now have two more weeks to prepare Montgomery to reform his elite tandem with Jahmyr Gibbs, who thrived as the team’s starter in the veteran’s stead. Gibbs is coming off a four-touchdown performance in the Lions’ dismantling of the Vikings. As a result, Gibbs’ backfield mate has more time to recover.
While Gibbs took on a bigger role this season, Montgomery still totaled 775 rushing yards and 12 TDs in 14 games. Montomgery also became a far more significant part of Detroit’s passing attack, amassing 341 receiving yards after totaling just 117 in his first Lions season. The team gave him a two-year, $18.25MM extension weeks before his MCL injury.
Montgomery does not factor into the Lions’ IR-return puzzle, having been kept on the active roster. Otherwise, he would have needed to wait one more week to return. Linebacker Derrick Barnes does, but Campbell said neither he nor Carlton Davis will be expected to play again this season. Barnes has been on IR since September with a knee injury. The Lions had not ruled him out, pointing to a potential late-season reemergence. Like D-lineman John Cominsky, however, no comeback is likely.
This is a tough blow to a former Day 3 pick in a contract year, and Barnes had started 26 games for the Lions since being part of the first Campbell-Brad Holmes draft. That included three starts this year. While Barnes and Malcolm Rodriguez are done for the season, Alex Anzalone‘s return alongside Jack Campbell made a difference against Minnesota. Barnes’ injury activation place could be allocated to rookie DB Ennis Rakestraw. Campbell said the second-round pick is likely to be ready to go soon, Rogers adds. Rakestraw, a cornerback chosen 61st overall, suffered a hamstring injury during a late-November practice. The Missouri alum would represent some insurance, having only played 46 defensive snaps this season, for a position group battered by injuries.
Davis sustained a broken jaw in Week 15, and while the Lions did not place the trade pickup on IR as hope existed regarding a potential 11th-hour return, Campbell said (via the Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett) that is unlikely. Acquired in a package that brought a third-round pick to the Bucs, Davis started all 13 games he played for the Lions. He is heading toward free agency. Turning 28 just last week, the former Super Bowl LV starter should be expected to command extensive interest.
The Lions saw free agency addition Amik Robertson play quite well in relief Sunday night, operating primarily on Justin Jefferson and largely neutralizing the Vikings superstar. The former Raiders regular has started the past three games in place of Davis, playing alongside first-rounder Terrion Arnold. Being unable to put weight on his injured foot upon leaving the Lions’ Week 18 tilt, Arnold suffered a foot contusion. While Campbell stopped short of confirming Arnold would be back for Round 2, the fourth-year HC called the rookie’s prognosis “positive.”
Lions’ David Montgomery Avoids Season-Ending Injury, Could Return In Playoffs
The Lions finally got a piece of positive injury news this week. Despite earlier reports, star running back David Montgomery avoided a season-ending injury and may return in the postseason, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
[RELATED: Lions Not Ruling Out David Montgomery Return]
Montgomery and the Lions had been consulting experts over the past few days regarding his MCL injury, hoping that it was not as severe as initially thought. That was confirmed on Thursday, per Rapoport, giving Montgomery a chance to rehab his knee and rejoin Detroit in the postseason.
The Lions have been besieged with injuries this season, including a particularly brutal stretch over the last month with several defenders landing on injured reserve. Fortunately, the team’s offense has generally stayed intact, and while a Montgomery loss was disappointing, it wasn’t necessarily a season-killer considering the team’s other high-powered offensive weapons.
Montgomery has turned into one of the top scorers in the NFL since joining the Lions. He finished his first season in Detroit with 13 touchdowns (plus another two in the postseason), and he collected another 12 touchdowns in 14 games this season. While the veteran experienced career-low usage as a pass-catcher in 2023, he saw a significant uptick this season, hauling in 36 catches for 341 yards.
As noted, the Lions have more than enough offensive weapons to make up for Montgomery’s absence. Jahmyr Gibbs has followed up his standout rookie campaign with an even better sophomore season, collecting 1,442 yards from scrimmage and 14 touchdowns. The Lions have been careful about managing the RB’s workload in 2024; Gibbs has only topped 20 rushing attempts once this season, and he’s compiled 20 or more touches in only four games.
The Lions may be more willing to make Gibbs a temporary workhorse with the understanding that Montgomery could eventually be back when it matter. Still, there should be an opening for the likes of Craig Reynolds and fourth-round rookie Sione Vaki to earn more reps over the next few weeks.
Ben Levine contributed to this post.
Lions Not Ruling Out David Montgomery Return; John Cominsky Activation Unlikely
In what is starting to become an interesting trend, the Lions may add yet another name to their mix of players who could make late-season returns. As it turns out, the team is not ready to bail on David Montgomery coming back at some point.
Dan Campbell said Monday his starting running back was set to miss the rest of the season with an MCL injury. The fourth-year Lions HC backtracked on that Wednesday, indicating Montgomery has sought a third opinion on his injured knee.
“David’s getting another opinion,” Campbell said (via SI.com). “He’s had a couple, and really just see what this third one says. That’s why we have not put him on injured reserve.
“We’re in waiting mode. … It is one of these injuries that’s unique? You need to know, ’Is it stable? Is it fixed or will it scar?’ And then, certainly stable for now and for later. And then you’ve got to rely on him (saying), ‘Hey man, I can do this.’”
After a solid but unspectacular Bears tenure, Montgomery has been essential to the Lions’ rise over the past two seasons. He has formed one of the best running back tandems in recent NFL history, teaming with Jahmyr Gibbs in a thunder-lightning-like setup. Montgomery has operated as Detroit’s starter, with Gibbs a lethal change-of-pace option. Montgomery has already accumulated 25 rushing touchdowns as a Lion, playing well behind a top-tier offensive line, and was on pace for a second straight 1,000-yard season. The Lions extended the former second-round pick on a two-year, $18.25MM deal earlier this season.
As Gibbs appears all but certain to play a bigger role for the NFC North leaders down the stretch, the Lions are holding off on Montgomery heading to IR. When asked if he had hopes of returning this season, Montgomery responded (via Lions.com) in the affirmative. In the meantime, the Lions will carry the RB on their 53-man roster.
Detroit’s IR-return picture is becoming foggier. The team has seven total activations remaining, counting the two additional playoff slots, and several players loom as return candidates. Aidan Hutchinson is in play to come back as early as the NFC championship game, should the Lions advance that far, while Carlton Davis could come back from a broken jaw during the postseason as well. The team designated safety Ifeatu Melifonwu for return for a second time this season today, moving him closer to a comeback. Linebackers Alex Anzalone and Derrick Barnes have not been ruled out for the year, and DB Ennis Rakestraw is eligible to return.
Melifonwu, a part-time starter last season, has already been activated from IR once. It did not lead to any game action, as the fourth-year veteran landed back on IR days later due to a nagging ankle injury. But the Lions evidently feel comfortable moving him closer to a reactivation. Under the current setup, players can be activated from IR twice in a season. Both transactions count toward teams’ activation totals, however.
As this pride of rehabbing Lions aims to flood the transaction wire with IR-return designations and eventual activations, Campbell called defensive lineman John Cominsky unlikely to return. Cominsky has missed all of this season due to a torn MCL sustained in July. While the Lions waited until setting their 53-man roster before placing him on IR, he appears to be drifting out of the Lions’ complex IR-return picture. In his third year with the Lions, Cominsky has started 19 games with the team. Alim McNeill is definitively out of it as well, having suffered an ACL tear against the Bills.
Though, the batch of players Detroit does have in this mix offers some hope for the battered 12-2 team. For now, Montgomery remains in this equation. If the team ends up shelving the sixth-year back, Craig Reynolds — a 2019 UDFA who has been with the Lions for four seasons — is set to play a larger role. Reynolds figures to see increased run in the meantime, as it would seem logical Montgomery will miss some games before returning — in the event he does not undergo season-ending surgery.
Lions’ David Montgomery Out For Season
2:04pm: A brutal stretch for the Lions will impact the team’s backfield. Dan Campbell announced Monday afternoon Montgomery is set to undergo season-ending knee surgery. This will certainly change how Detroit proceeds on offense, as Montgomery and Gibbs have formed a lethal tandem since being paired together in 2023.
Montgomery’s extension secured $2MM guaranteed as part of his $5.49MM base salary next season; he is signed through 2027 as part of the deal. The Lions have veteran Craig Reynolds and fourth-round rookie Sione Vaki in place as backups behind Gibbs.
11:30am: The notable losses suffered on defense are not the only blows the Lions were dealt yesterday. Running back David Montgomery is dealing with an MCL injury and is out indefinitely, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.
Schefter adds Montgomery is set to undergo further testing on the injury; he will also seek out a second opinion on the matter. If he is to miss significant time (which Schefter notes is a distinct possibility), Detroit’s rushing attack will be greatly affected. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports the injury is in fact an MCL tear.
As a result, it remains to be seen if Montgomery will be available again in 2024. Losing him for the rest of the year would deal a major blow to Detroit’s rushing attack given the effective tandem he has formed with Jahmyr Gibbs over the past two years. The Lions rank sixth in the NFL in rushing yards per game in no small part due to Montgomery’s success.
The former Bear eclipsed 1,000 yards for the second time in his career in 2023, averaging a career-high 4.6 yards per attempt along the way. Montgomery’s efficiency has seen a slight decline this year, and an increased workload for Gibbs has lowered his per-game rushing output. Still, the Montgomery-Gibbs pairing has remained a focal point of the Lions’ elite offense, and losing one of the league’s top short yardage and goal line backs could be crippling down the stretch. Detroit remains in contention for the NFC’s No. 1 seed, but overcoming a long list of injuries will be needed to secure the first-round bye.
Montgomery landed a two-year extension in October in a move which ensured he would remain in the Motor City through Gibbs’ rookie contract. Expectations remained high in the wake of that raise, and that will still be the case whenever the 27-year-old is next on the field. If testing indicates Montgomery will not be available again in 2024, however, Gibbs will face a notably increased workload while Detroit’s passing game will be leaned on to compensate.
The defensive side of the ball has been hit much harder than the offensive side in the case of the 2024 Lions. Quarterback Jared Goff, along with Gibbs, wideouts Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams and tight end Sam LaPorta – not to mention all five of the team’s O-line starters – are healthy at this point. Montgomery’s absence would nevertheless be acutely felt if he is in fact unable to return.
Lions Extend RB David Montgomery
The Lions’ highly effective backfield tandem is set to remain intact for years to come. David Montgomery has agreed to an extension which will keep him in place through 2027, as noted by FOX2’s Dan Miller.
The deal is now official, per a team announcement. As a result, Montgomery has become the latest Lion on the offensive side of the ball to land a new contract. The 27-year-old has proven to be a strong fit in the team’s scheme since arriving as a free agent in 2023. Adding financial details to the agreement, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports this will be an $18.25MM deal including $10.5MM guaranteed.
Montgomery began his career with the Bears, immediately serving as a key member of their offense during his rookie campaign. He logged no fewer than 201 carries during his four years in Chicago, remaining highly durable despite that heavy workload. Across his tenure in the Windy City, however, the former third-rounder only averaged 3.9 yards per carry and questions were raised about his efficiency coming off his rookie contract.
The Bears were interested in retaining Montgomery on a new deal last spring, and an offer was made. Minnesota was also interested in a contract, but he wound up making a different intra-divisional move. Montgomery joined the Lions to serve as the team’s Jamaal Williams replacement. The Iowa State product inked a three-year, $18MM pact to head to Detroit. Guaranteed salary only existed on the first two years of the pact, however, and it was set to void in February 2025. That helps explain the timing of this move.
Of course, a mutual desire would also naturally exist to continue this relationship given how productive it has proven to be. Running behind one of the league’s top offensive lines, Montgomery topped 1,000 rushing yards for the second time in his career last season at a career-best rate of 4.6 yards per attempt. He added a personal best 13 touchdowns, which ranked tied for third in the NFL amongst running backs. The early portion of the current campaign has also yielded strong numbers; Montgomery has found the end zone once in every game so far in 2024.
The Lions used the first of their two Day 1 selections on Jahmyr Gibbs last April, adding him as a high-upside complement to Montgomery in the backfield. The Alabama product – as expected – had notable production in the passing game (52 catches, 362 yards) as a rookie, and an expanded role was planned in the offseason for 2024. Indeed, Gibbs has seen his number of carries increase to 13.5 per contest this year, and he has remained efficient on the ground and productive overall (four total touchdowns). While Gibbs plays out his rookie contract, Montgomery will remain in place after receiving a raise.
The latter will now be attached to the seventh-highest AAV amongst running backs after previously ranking 14th in that regard. Montgomery will be expected to remain a strong short-yardage and red zone contributor over the coming years as Gibbs continues to develop. If that tandem can remain arguably the league’s best, Detroit’s offense will be among the most efficient on the ground for several years.
The 2024 offseason saw quarterback Jared Goff, receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and offensive tackles Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker each land multi-year extensions. Those players will stay in place as pillars of the offense for the foreseeable future. Montgomery’s new pact is much smaller in value, but it too will help ensure a notable degree of continuity on that side of the ball for the Lions.