Detroit Lions place running back Craig Reynolds on IR

The Detroit Lions placed another player on IR Wednesday, as running back Craig Reynolds will now be shut down for a bit.

As the Detroit Lions went back to work to prepare for Week 10 against the Chicago Bears, another player will be sidelined for a bit. Running back Craig Reynolds has been placed on IR, after leaving last week’s game against the Packers with a rib injury.

Reynolds has been the Lions’ No. 3 running back this season, with an uptick in his snap shares when D’Andre Swift was out. In eight games he has 23 carries for 102 yards and nine catches for 116 yards.

Of course, Reynolds will miss at least the next four games. His earliest return date is Week 14 against the Minnesota Vikings.

In other moves Wednesday, the Lions signed wide receiver Trinity Benson to the active roster from the Broncos practice squad and they re-signed wide receiver Stanley Berryhill to the practice squad.

How will the Lions replace Craig Reynolds?

With Swift still dealing with his ankle and shoulder issues, the third running back has been and will continue to be a valuable role for the Lions. In Reynolds’ place will step Justin Jackson, who has been a part-time kickoff returner and averaged 6.8 yards per carry on four carries in Week 9. Jackson is a capable veteran with a career average of 5.0 yards per carry.

Second-year man Jermar Jefferson has yet to be elevated to the active roster from the practice squad this season. He’s a strong candidate to just be signed outright to the active roster if the Lions want a fourth running back while Reynolds is out, and last week Dan Campbell said Jefferson is someone he wanted to get a look at.

"We have a lot of guys left to get a good look at,” Campbell said. “I mean I’d love to find a way to get (James) Houston up at some point, (Jermar) Jefferson up.”"