Dan Campbell offers hope for D’Andre Swift to quickly return to Lions lineup

D’Andre Swift will miss Sunday’s game against the Vikings, but head coach Dan Campbell offered some hope for the Lions’ star runner to make a fast return to the lineup.

After suffering a shoulder sprain on Thanksgiving Day against the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions running back D’Andre Swift will miss Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings. A multi-week absence always felt possible, and a report this week confirmed it.

During his Friday press conference, head coach Dan Campbell had an update on Swift.

“Right now I feel like he’s maybe a week away,” “I’m hoping that. He’s still pretty sore, but getting better and improving. We’ll see where it goes here. I’ll know a lot more tomorrow. You see how he feels day in and day out, but right now he’s pretty tender.”

Could D’Andre Swift miss just one game?

Swift avoided a worst-case scenario, which would’ve been a collarbone issue of some sort to go with the sprained AC joint in his right shoulder. The idea of shutting him down for the season is definitely out there with the Lions sitting at 0-10-1, and it’s not totally without merit. That he hasn’t been put on IR can be seen as a good sign, or a delay of the inevitable that he won’t play again this season.

In any case, Campbell is hoping (as any coach would) that Swift will be able to play as soon as Week 14 against the Denver Broncos. He is the only player in the league with at least 100 carries and 55 receptions this season, and he’s one of two (Austin Ekeler is the other) with at least 500 rushing yards and 400 receiving yards this season.

Jamaal Williams will step in as the Lions lead back on Sunday, and for however many games Swift misses. Godwin Igwebuike and Jermar Jefferson are in line for more opportunities too. Campbell acknowledged the committee effort to try to replace Swift’s production.

“It’s not easy to replace a guy like him, as dynamic as he’s been,” Campbell said of replacing Swift. “It really becomes that production is by committee now. Where does Swift’s production go now to get it back? And I would say we’re trying to find ways to spread it throughout this roster of skill players that we do have.”