Between Sunday's game and Monday afternoon, David Montgomery's knee injury evolved from head coach Dan Campbell saying he "just got a little banged up" to he had an MCL injury and may miss the rest of the season to he would need season-ending surgery.
There's no doubt Montgomery will be out for multiple weeks. But when the Lions announced roster moves on Tuesday afternoon, it was interesting Montgomery was not placed on IR along with Alim McNeill, Carlton Davis and Khalil Dorsey. It could be brushed off as eventually happening and a matter of procedural time in regard to a roster spot players on IR who could return this season, but it was noticeable and probably not a coincidence.
David Montgomery holding out hope he'll return this season
On Tuesday night, Montgomery hosted a coat drive in Detroit for families in need. Team reporter Dannie Rogers caught up with him at the event.
.@dannierogers___ caught up with @MontgomerDavid this evening as he hosted a coat drive with @theyunion to benefit Detroit families in need.#InspireChange | #ItTakesAllofUs pic.twitter.com/BkM2DrgiLq
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) December 18, 2024
After Rogers asked Montgomery about the event and why it's important to him, the conversation moved to how he feels "football-wise", and the Lions' running back is keeping a positive perspective.
“I’m good. I’m alive, I’m well, I can breathe, my son’s healthy, my family’s healthy, I’m good", Montgomery said.
Rogers then noted to Montgomery how he was not placed on IR Tuesday, despite Campbell saying he needed season-ending surgery, asking him if IR was still coming.
“We don’t know. We’re kind of working through the logistics right now. Things may change,” Montgomery said.
Rogers directly asked Montgomery if he could play against this season, to which he said “I hope so.”
The severity of Montgomery's MCL injury lays out the potential timeline where he could return. A Grade 3 injury, a full tear, could sideline someone for 6-8 weeks. As noted previously with Davis and the report he would be out six weeks with a fractured jaw, six weeks from last Sunday is the day of the NFC Championship Game. For Montgomery, a less severe MCL injury (Grade 1? Grade 2?) opens the door for him to possibly return sooner than that.
There's not a lot of good injury news for the Lions right now. Montgomery possibly being able to play again this season is in that category, however unexpectedly after how the news evolved on Monday.