Detroit Lions: Will Darrell Bevell add a familiar face at running back?
The Detroit Lions need a running back to spell second-year phenom Kerryon Johnson. Could new offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell turn to a familiar face?
The Detroit Lions appear to have their future at running back secured. The Lions traded up in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft in order to grab Auburn running back Kerryon Johnson.
And despite only playing in 10 games during his rookie season due to injury, Johnson was impressive, breaking the 100-yard rushing mark twice. No running back had reached that mark in the Motor City since Reggie Bush back in 2013.
The unfortunate truth is Johnson had a long and concerning injury past prior to the season-ending knee injury he suffered his rookie season in Detroit. The 21-year old has sustained numerous injuries going all the way back to high school.
That fact could lead new offensive coordinator, Darrell Bevell, who has coached some of the top running backs in NFL history, to not look at Johnson as a workhorse. Instead, Bevell and head coach Matt Patricia will likely look for another thoroughbred to pair with their budding superstar.
The obvious candidates are Zach Zenner and Theo Riddick. Zenner is scheduled to become a free agent next month but showed enough at the end of last season to surely earn himself a chance to return.
The same may not be said for Riddick who despite posting 61 receptions had a career-low 6.3 yards per catch average and failed to score a single touchdown. The third down back is scheduled to count $4.62 million against the salary cap in 2019.
With the Lions unlikely to re-sign 32-year old former starter LeGarrette Blount, Bevell may turn to a familiar face to help solidify the position. Seattle Seahawks’ running back Mike Davis is scheduled to be a free agent when the market opens next month. And Detroit could be the perfect landing spot.
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Davis was a fourth-round selection out of South Carolina back in 2015. He spent his first two seasons with the San Francisco 49ers before landing with Bevell and the Seahawks in 2017. The 26-year old racked up 514 rushing yards and four scores averaging 4.6 yards per carry as a backup last season. Johnson and Davis could make the perfect pair in Motown this upcoming season.