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5 running backs the Detroit Lions could potentially trade for

By Steven Mullenax

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 20: Melvin Gordon #25 of the Los Angeles Chargers scores a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans during the first half at Nissan Stadium on October 20, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 20: Melvin Gordon #25 of the Los Angeles Chargers scores a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans during the first half at Nissan Stadium on October 20, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images /

The Detroit Lions placed their starting running back Kerryon Johnson on Injured Reserve. Here are five trade candidates to replace him in the Motor City.

The Detroit Lions lost two starters on Tuesday. Running back Kerryon Johnson was placed on Injured Reserve following a knee injury he suffered against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday resulted in the second-year pro having a procedure that will sideline him. The Lions hope to get Johnson back before the end of the season.

The Lions also traded safety Quandre Diggs along with a seventh-round pick in 2021 for a fifth-round selection in 2020. The move saves Detroit $1.6 million in salary cap space for 2019 and approximately $10.7 million over the next two years. That according to Sportrac.com.

Detroit clearly felt comfortable enough about their depth at the safety position to let their starter go. And we’ll likely see much more of 2019 third-round rookie Will Harris as a result.

As for the running back position, the Lions are preparing to go with the dreaded running back-by-committee approach with J.D. McKissic, Ty Johnson, Tra Carson on the depth chart. Detroit also has running back Paul Perkins on the practice squad.

But perhaps the notion of a running back-by-committee gameplan is a bit of a smokescreen. After all, Detroit just cleared some future salary cap space with the Diggs’ trade. Could the Lions be looking to make a trade in order to fill their need for a steady, reliable starting running back? Kerryon Johnson has proven to have durability issues and will likely never become a workhorse back because of it.

With that in mind, here are five running backs we can envision the Detroit Lions trading for in the coming days …

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