Detroit Lions have all but given up on their rushing attack
The Detroit Lions have done nothing to replace the production of Kerryon Johnson. By their inaction, the Motor City has given up on running the football.
Against the Chicago Bears in Week 10, the Detroit Lions posted a total of 98 rushing yards. The good news was that’s the Lions’ highest rushing total since Week Four. The bad news is backup quarterback Jeff Driskel was Detroit’s leading rusher with 37 yards.
The Lions have struggled to establish their running game all season long. And that was before second-year running back Kerryon Johnson landed in Injured Reserve due to a knee injury after Week Seven. Over the past five games, Motown has a lowly average 76.8 rushing yards per contest. That average would make them tied for the fourth-worst rushing offense in the NFL today.
Detroit’s front office has done nothing to replace Johnson’s lost production. Despite reported workouts with free-agent running backs Jay Ajayi and Jeremy Hill, the Lions elected not to sign either one. The team also failed to trade for Kenyan Drake (now with the Arizona Cardinals) or the Atlanta Falcons’ Devonta Freeman before the league’s deadline despite reported interest.
The Lions seemed to have an opportunity to upgrade the position this weekend when it was announced the Chicago Bears were waiving former starting running back Mike Davis.
Claiming Davis off the waiver wire seemed to make sense since he’d played for Lions’ offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell in Seattle and the Lions had reported interest in him as a restricted free agent just two years ago. Yet, Detroit apparently didn’t even put in a waiver claim for Davis as the veteran running back was awarded to the Carolina Panthers instead.
The Lions seem more than happy to roll with the trio of rookie Ty Johnson, former wide receiver J.D. McKissic, and roster-journeyman Paul Perkins. Unfortunately, Ty Johnson suffered a head injury in the first quarter against the Bears on Sunday. He’s currently in concussion protocol.
Next. 5 potential coaching replacements for Matt Patricia. dark
Ty Johnson’s possible absence should force the Detroit Lions into action this week. The most logical move is to promote either former Alabama star running back Bo Scarbrough or Slippery Rock rookie runner Wes Hills from the practice squad. At the end of the day, it appears the Lions’ brass simply refuses to do anything to upgrade their rushing attack. And that’s truly sad.