Reports: Lions running back D’Andre Swift unlikely to play vs. Cowboys

After some optimism all week, multiple reports say Lions running back D’Andre Swift is going to be out Sunday against the Cowboys.

A return to practice coming out of the bye week fostered optimism, and he told reporters he was “pushing” to play. But according to multiple reports late Saturday night, Lions running back D’Andre Swift is not likely to play Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys.

Swift suffered an ankle injury in Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles, and played through it the next two games. Along with aggravating his ankle injury in Week 3 against the Minnesota Vikings, he also suffered a sprained shoulder. With a Week 6 bye in mind, resting him for Week 4 and Week 5 made perfect sense.

Swift is averaging 8.6 yards per carry (27 carries for 231 yards and a touchdown) and 9.6 yards pe catch (eight receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown) in three games this season. But availability continues to be an issue, even if his current injuries are a cut above the kind of minor injuries running backs coach Duce Staley challenged him to play through in the offseason.

Detroit Lions: When will D’Andre Swift return to action?

Via Pride of Detroit, the Lions’ coaching staff was careful not to say too much about whether or not Swift would play this week, with careful optimism.

Dan Campbell:

"We’ll see, but he’s done a little bit more every day, and (we’ll) see how he is and where he’s at today, and then we’ll take it from there.”"

Duce Staley:

"Yeah, just taking it one day at a time. That’s where we are now with him and each day he has made progress. So, I will say that. And every day we’ll continue to check, the doctors and everything will continue to check and I talk with him. So, he’s making progress and once we get to that point, that’s something that (Offensive Coordinator) Ben (Johnson) and myself make sure that we’re on top is balancing those guys out and we will.”"

The report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler suggested Swift appears to “need another week to heal”. So Week 8 against the Miami Dolphins might be when he returns to action.

Definitive word will of course come about an hour-and-a-half before Sunday’s 1 p.m. ET kickoff. But it looks like Swift will be inactive against the Cowboys, so if you’re a Swift fantasy manager be sure to get him out of your lineup.