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.
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.
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.
After another round of injuries in Week 15, the Lions signed Pittman off the Jaguars’ practice squad to bolster their linebacker room. The five-year veteran appeared in just one game for Jacksonville this season, which coincidentally came against the Lions in Week 11. Pittman has primarily played special teams in his NFL career and will continue that role in Detroit.
The Raiders will be without Robinson for the rest of the season after he received a three-game suspension for violation of the NFL’s substance-abuse policy.
The Lions will also have two more activations to use once in the playoffs, giving the injury-decimated team more avenues to bring players back. It is not known who will return just yet, but Davis and Hutchinson are in play to come back should the team advance to the NFC championship game. Anzalone, Barnes, Cominsky and others stand to have a chance to return before that point. However, McNeill, Dorsey and David Montgomery are done for the season.
DECEMBER 16: The Lions were dealt several more blows on defense during their loss on Sunday. Defensive tackle Alim McNeillwill not play again in 2024, while a postseason run will be needed for cornerback Carlton Davisto return to action.
Both players exited Sunday’s game with their respective injuries, and head coach Dan Campbell expressed doubt that either of them would be available the rest of the way. That has been confirmed in McNeill’s case, and the news of his injury deals a significant blow to Detroit’s defensive front (a unit which is already highly shorthanded along the edge). The 24-year-old posted 3.5 sacks this season, meaning he would have had a chance at surpassing his previous career high of 5.0 – set last year – had he remained healthy. This is the first major injury of his career.
McNeill’s ACL tear comes shortly after he agreed to a four-year extension, a deal which made him one of several impact players who have landed a new Lions contract recently. The former third-rounder was on track to hit free agency this spring prior to that deal being worked out; his market value no doubt would have been lower given this injury had he and the team waited until the end of the campaign to negotiate. Instead, McNeill (who is under contract through 2028 with an AAV $24.25MM) will be unavailable during Detroit’s closing regular season games and postseason run.
Schefter notes Davis will undergo surgery, and his rehab after that procedure will be key in determining if he is able to play again this season. Rapoport’s six-week timeline would line Davis up exactly with the NFC title game if it were to hold true (and if, of course, the Lions were to progress to that point). In the meantime, the team will move forward with a shorthanded secondary while attempting to earn the top seed in the conference and the much-needed bye which would accompany it.
Davis was acquired via trade as part of Detroit’s efforts to produce improved play at the CB spot. The former Buccaneer has delivered a pair of interceptions, 11 pass defections and two fumble recoveries in his debut Lions campaign, making him a key figure on defense. His absence will be felt over the closing weeks of the regular season on a unit which already sits only 26th in the league against the pass (and which lost Khalil Dorsey for the season on Sunday). The struggles in that department could very well continue with Davis not in the picture.
The Lions have been atop the NFC for most of the year, but they have been unable to generate a cushion given the strength of the NFC North and the play of the Eagles. Detroit’s loss leaves the team even at 12-2 with Philadelphia; Minnesota would match that record with a win on Monday night. The race for the top seed in the conference will therefore remain tight through to the end of the regular season, but the Lions’ defense will increasingly rely on backups over that span.
December 17th, 2024 at 12:48pm CST by Sam Robinson
This NFL season saw several teams slip out of contention quicker than usual, slimming wild-card races and expanding the pursuit for the No. 1 overall pick. Two teams now lead that race.
While no prospect on the Caleb Williams level is dangling for the Raiders and Giants, an interesting showdown has formed. With three weeks to go, the Giants would currently hold the top 2025 draft choice. But based on projected strength of schedule, the Raiders would win the tiebreaker if the results held. The team with the weaker overall strength of schedule would win that. The Giants still have a game against the 12-2 Eagles, while the Raiders’ upcoming matchup with the 3-11 Jaguars works in their favor.
The Giants have not held the No. 1 pick in the common draft era (1967-present), last making a choice atop a draft in 1965 (running back Tucker Frederickson). Their Eli Manning trade occurred after the Chargers had chosen the quarterback to start the 2004 draft. The Raiders have held the top pick once in the common draft era, famously choosing JaMarcus Russell to start the ’07 draft. Both teams have coaches fighting for their jobs, but each also has seen All-Pros (Dexter Lawrence, Maxx Crosby) removed from equations. Losers of 10 straight, the Raiders follow their Jaguars matchup with games against the Saints and Chargers. The Giants, who have dropped nine consecutive games, go Falcons-Colts-Eagles to close the season.
Five 3-11 teams sit behind the Raiders and Giants presently, with the NFL having nine teams who have already lost double-digit contests. If a Giants or Raiders win occurs, there are candidates to move toward pole position in what could be races for Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward. Though, a non-Giants or Raiders team finishing in the top two creates a bit more intrigue, as both those clubs are in dire need of QB help.
With an eye on teams’ projected strength of schedule based on current records, here is how the draft order looks with three games to go:
Designated to return from reserve/PUP: WR Colton Dowell
Anthony Pittman is back in Detroit after the Lions snagged the linebacker off the Jaguars’ practice squad. Pittman was once a special teams mainstay for the Lions, appearing in every game for the organization between 2021 and 2023. Over that time, he was limited to 134 defensive snaps (vs. 1,099 ST snaps), and he’ll likely see a similar role during his current stint with the squad.
Colton Dowell will return to practice this week after being designated for return from the PUP list. The wideout suffered a torn ACL last December, and coach Brian Callahan told reporters that they wanted to give a look at the player after he worked so hard during rehab (via the team’s website). A 2023 seventh-round pick, Dowell got into 10 games as a rookie.
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.
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 Gibbsover 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. Brownand Jameson Williamsand 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.
December 15th, 2024 at 10:09pm CST by Adam La Rose
The final four weeks of the season will see a number of playoff spots decided, along with the top seed in each conference. While the Chiefs have a degree of breathing space for the No. 1 slot in the AFC, the lone first-round bye in the NFC could come down to the last slate of regular season contests.
The Lions have stood atop the conference for much of the season, something which comes as no surprise give the expectations the team faced entering the campaign. Given the strength of the NFC North, however, Detroit has not been able to generate a cushion in the standings. An 11-game winning streak placed the team at 12-1 on the year — prior to a Week 15 loss to the Bills — but plenty of work remains to secure the top seed.
The final stretch of the campaign will see the Lions host the Bills in a clash of the league’s two highest-scoring offenses. Detroit then has road contests against the Bears and 49ers, teams which are on track to fall short of the postseason. The regular season will conclude with the Lions and Vikings playing what could be a critical head-to-head matchup, although other results may have decided the No. 1 seed by that point.
Injuries on defense have led many to wonder if the Lions will be able to remain atop the conference but to date they have done so. Aidan Hutchinson will not be available down the stretch, but a return by the Super Bowl continues to be mentioned as a possibility. Before that hypothetical point, maintaining their run of success (which could include welcoming back other injured players) will be crucial in the Lions’ bid for the top seed.
The Eagles sat at 2-2 entering their bye week, leading to questions about their status as genuine Super Bowl contenders. The team has not lost since returning to action in Week 6, thanks in no small part to the performance of Saquon Barkleyduring his debut Philadelphia season. The former Giants Pro Bowler already holds the single-season franchise rushing record, and his 1,623 yards represent a career high while also leading the league. Remaining his production will be key for an offense which has not been consistent or efficient through the air for much of the campaign.
Of course, the Eagles’ strong play on the other side of the ball has played a central role in their 10-game winning streak and 12-2 record. Philadelphia leads the league in total defense and has allowed the second-fewest points per game (18), making Vic Fangio’s first season a stark contrast to where the unit sat late in the campaign in 2023. While the loss of Brandon Grahamfor the season represents a blow to the Eagles’ edge rush, the team could remain strong in that respect en route to (at least) the No. 1 spot in the NFC East standings.
Philadelphia’s remaining schedule includes a cross-state matchup with Pittsburgh, followed by a road matchup with the Commanders. While both of those teams figure to represent challenging opponents, the same cannot be said of the Cowboys and Giants. The Eagles will close out the season with home games against those divisional rivals, both of which are out of contention and missing several key players. A path exists for Philadelphia to make a late run past Detroit to secure the first-round bye.
If the Lions are to be unseated over the final month of the season, the Vikings could very well play a large role. The aforementioned Week 18 matchup represents Minnesota’s best opportunity to make up ground and in doing so claim the No. 1 seed or at least the top spot in the division (ensuring home-field advantage during the first two rounds of the playoffs). Over the next three weeks, the Vikings will host the Bears and Packers with a road game against the Seahawks in between.
That schedule certainly represents a challenge with respect to maintaining Minnesota’s current six-game winning streak, something which will likely be necessary if overtaking Detroit is to remain possible on the final day of the season. In any event, the 2024 campaign has exceeded expectation in the Vikings’ case, with the play of Sam Darnoldbeing one of the league’s top storylines. The former No. 3 pick is on track to be the top quarterback in this offseason’s free agent class, and a lucrative deal from an outside suitor would come as no surprise.
Of course, Darnold’s strong performance is a testament to head coach Kevin O’Connell’s work. The latter has not discussed an extension to date, but a new deal could be coming his way in the near future, ensuring stability on the sidelines. The more immediate attention of O’Connell and his team, though, will be aimed at the pursuit of the No. 1 seed.
Of the three contenders for the NFC’s top spot, which will ultimately secure it? Vote in PFR’s latest poll and have your say in the comments section.
The Lions spent Sunday afternoon going blow-for-blow with the Bills, combining for the highest-scoring performance in the NFL this season. They ended up falling just short of Buffalo, and that loss compounded with a number of injuries to make this a rough day for Detroit.
The first such injury occurred when cornerback Khalil Dorsey appeared to suffer a serious leg injury. He was carted off the field with the injured leg in an air cast. Per ESPN’s Eric Woodyard, head coach Dan Campbell told the media after the game that Dorsey’s injury was similar to what happened to Aidan Hutchinson. In short, Dorsey is not expected to play again in the 2024 NFL season.
Additionally, today’s game saw defensive tackle Alim McNeill and cornerback Carlton Davis depart with injuries, as well. McNeill left the field with a knee injury and, after a visit in the blue medical tent, was carted off to the locker room, while Davis suffered a jaw injury. According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, Campbell relayed that “he doesn’t feel good about the chances” of either player returning this year.
If all three players are placed on injured reserve, they would join 18 other players on IR. They would up the number of defensive players on IR from 13 to 16. The Lions have overcome incredible adversity so far this year and still currently hold the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
Here are some updates on a couple other injuries around the NFL:
We mentioned earlier this week that Giants rookie starting safety Tyler Nubin would miss the rest of the season on IR with an ankle injury. Per Ryan Dunleavy of New York Post Sports, head coach Brian Daboll believes that Nubin’s injury will probably require ankle surgery. This means that Nubin will likely spend most of the offseason working to recover in time for the 2025 season.
The Texans needed to elevate practice squad tight end Irv Smith today as rookie fourth-round tight end Cade Stover was a surprise scratch from today’s game. Stover logged the first absence of his NFL career due to an emergency appendectomy performed last night, according to Kimberley A. Martin of ESPN. Stover is expected to make a full recovery.
[RELATED: Lions Not Ruling Out David Montgomery Return]
