Lions running back D’Andre Swift inactive for Sunday vs. Falcons

Lions running back D’Andre Swift has missed the last three-plus games with a shoulder injury, and he’s out again Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons.

Detroit Lions running back D’Andre Swift suffered a right shoulder injury on Thanksgiving Day against the Chicago Bears, and he hasn’t played since. He returned to practice this past week, and being listed as questionable on Friday opened up the idea he could make his return Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons.

But it was not to be. Swift is among the Lions’ inactives for Sunday.

Of some note as well is rookie running back Jermar Jefferson being a healthy scratch for Sunday. So it’ll be Jamaal Wiliams, who’s back off the COVID-19 list after missing the last two games, recent star Craig Reynolds and Godwin Igwebuike as the Lions’ running backs against Atlanta. Williams and Reynolds should split the majority of the backfield work.

D’Andre Swift really might not play again this season

Despite not having played since the first half on Thanksgiving Day, Swift is still one of just four players in the NFL with 100 carries and 55 receptions this season. The Lions’ rushing attack has remained productive without him, but his absence as a dual threat out of the backfield has been noted.

At this point, with just two games to go and despite his return to practice this week, the idea Swift won’t play again this season is becoming more of a certainty. Landing on IR appeared pretty likely a couple weeks ago. Then he returned to some level of listed practice activity every day last week, to foster some optimism he’d be able to return to action before the season was out.

Swift surely wants to play, and maybe that option remains open heading toward Week 17 against the Seattle Seahawks. But the risk-reward equation of putting him out there is tilting hard toward risk for the Lions, if it wasn’t already.