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Detroit Lions: Top 5 leading rushers since Barry Sanders

By Payne Schanski

DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 07: Reggie Bush #21 of the Detroit Lions looks to gain yards in the first quarter while playing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Ford Field on December 07, 2014 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 07: Reggie Bush #21 of the Detroit Lions looks to gain yards in the first quarter while playing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Ford Field on December 07, 2014 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Tom Pidgeon/Getty Images
Photo by Tom Pidgeon/Getty Images /

#1: Kevin Jones

Years in Detroit: 2004-07

Rushing yards as a Lion: 3,067

It would be easy to confuse him with James Stewart (same number, same running style, same build) and even easier to confuse him with Kevin Smith (same name, also same number, starting RB as a rookie).

But the Detroit Lions’ leading rushing in the post-Barry Sanders era played directly in the middle of #3 and #2 on this list.

Jones was the starter in Detroit for four years, and had an impressive first season, joining Barry Sanders and Billy Sims as Lions rookies to go over 1,000 yards. However, after gaining 1,133 yards as a rookie, Jones’s stats took a major dip in his remaining time from there, never getting to 700 again.

Next. Ranking every Lions team from the last 25 years. dark

Still, with slightly over 3,000 yards as a Lion, Kevin Jones remains the franchise’s leading rusher since Sanders walked away with 15,269 total yards in 1999.

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