The Detroit Lions found success in the rushing attack behind former Alabama star running back Bo Scarbrough versus the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
When the Detroit Lions played the Dallas Cowboys at Ford Field this past Sunday, it was clear which team had the better running back. The Cowboys starter, Ezekiel Elliott, is a two-time Pro Bowler, a two-time All-Pro selection, and he’s led the NFL in rushing yardage for two out of his previous three seasons in the league. Plain and simple, Zeke is a beast.
The Lions, on the other hand, started second-year running back Bo Scarbrough. Originally a seventh-round selection by the Cowboys last April, Scarbrough landing in Detroit earlier this month after stints with Dallas, the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Seattle Seahawks.
Signed to the Lions’ practice squad, Scarbrough was just promoted to the active roster last week. And not only was Sunday’s matchup against the Cowboys the 23-year old’s first NFL start, but it was also his first regular-season carry … ever.
Surprisingly, Scarbrough racked up 55 rushing yards and a touchdown on just 14 carries against the Dallas defense. That was more than Elliott, the league’s highest-paid running back, who posted 45 yards and a score on 16 rushing attempts.
It was a terrific debut for the former star running back out of Alabama. The 6-foot-1, 235-pound Scarbrough was seen as a lesser version of former Crimson Tide teammate and current Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry. A tall, lanky power-back with surprising quickness, Scarbrough was projected to be as high as a fourth-round selection coming out of college.
Injuries across the Lions’ running back depth chart opened the door for Scarbrough to start against the Cowboys in Week 11. And his potential as a powerful runner was on full display this past Sunday, giving Lions’ fans a glimmer of hope when it comes to Detroit’s anemic rushing attack.
With a record of 3-6-1, the Detroit Lions’ season seems all but lost. If so, fans could see the organization shutting down injured quarterback Matthew Stafford for the rest of the year. And starting running back Kerryon Johnson, who is currently on Injured Reserve, has likely seen his last snap in 2019 as well. That means backups like quarterback Jeff Driskel and Bo Scarbrough could be starters for the rest of the season, allowing both to gain some valuable experience and more opportunities to shine.