4 Detroit Lions who don’t deserve another season with the team in 2022

3. RB Godwin Igwebuike

Igwebuike, a converted safety making the transition to running back, had more kickoff return attempts (28) than he had carries (18) in 2021. He also fumbled away a potential opportunity when D’Andre Swift was out with a shoulder injury and Jamaal Williams was out, coughing the ball up in back-to-back games (Week 14 and Week 15), and the Lions quickly and easily pivoted to Craig Reynolds. Due in part to Swift and Williams returning to action, Igwebuike did not get a carry in the final three games of the season.

Igwebuike averaged 6.6 yards per carry with a 42-yard touchdown run on his limited attempts, and he was fine as a kickoff returner (24.9 yards per return). He’s a restricted free agent this offseason, with at least three (Swift, Williams and Reynolds) if not four (add Jermar Jefferson) backs ahead of him on the depth chart.

Igwebuike has some upside, and Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus leaned into some deeper metrics (4.2 average yards after contact last season) to make a case the Lions should prioritize bringing him back. But I don’t see how he fits or how it makes much sense to keep him, with no path to opportunity without a litany of injuries.