Despite evidence to the contrary, Lions running back D’Andre Swift says he doesn’t fit a label no football player wants.
When he added a shoulder issue to an ankle issue he was playing with, the Detroit Lions should have and did shut running back D’Andre Swift down through their Week 6 bye. He missed another game after the bye in Week 7, then had a solid chunk of snaps (33, 55 percent share) when he returned to action in Week 8.
Head coach Dan Campbell followed that game against the Dolphins by suggesting Swift’s five carries was “one too many”. In two games since, and despite him carrying no injury designation for Week 10, Swift has played a total of 29 snaps. After playing just 10 snaps against the Packers in Week 9, he was apparently not happy with such scant usage.
Swift also missed a chunk of time in each of his two NFL seasons before this one, and it’s clear he isn’t 100 percent right now.
While holding him out of any further games doesn’t seem to be on the radar, Swift probably won’t be fullly healthy until the offseason.
Lions running back D’Andre Swift says he’s not injury prone
Swift talked to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (subscription required) on Wednesday. He said he is wearing extra padding to protect his injured shoulder.
It's been a tough go for Lions RB D'Andre Swift, who's been nagged by injuries all season. He had more yards rushing in Week 1 than he's had in the Lions' 8 games since. Still, he's not trying to miss more time, as he told me yesterday https://t.co/MeXSY4fus7 via @freep
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) November 17, 2022
Quotes via SI.com:
"I’m not injury prone” said Swift. “It’s football. It’s a violent game.”"
In terms of being held out of practice at times or continuing in a reduced role on Sundays, Swift made it clear he does not want to miss any more games.
"Any days off help, but I know I need time but I don’t have the right now to sit down and allow myself to heal, and that’s fine” Swift expressed.It’s better than being on the sideline, not dressed up. And whatever role they had for me, I’m going to embrace it, do it to the best of my ability, focus on the little details and stuff like that,” said Swift. … “Still trying to be myself with what’s going on.”"
Swift doesn’t want to be called injury-prone, as no football player does. But he’s building a history that says he is not very durable, and this year a month off wasn’t enough time to get him close to full strength as he dealt with two injuries that are still a thing. Sometimes if the shoe fits you need to wear it, though Swift might hurt himself trying to put said shoe on.