It can be easy to forget about Jermar Jefferson, who was part of Brad Holmes' first draft class as Detroit Lions' general manager in 2021. But the running back hasn't strayed far from the organization since.
Jefferson has not played in a regular season game since his rookie season, has been patiently waiting on the Lions' practice squad since then.
With David Montgomery now sidelined with a knee injury. Jefferson could get his shot and he's obviously looking forward to the possible opportunity.
"You know what they say, in the NFL, one goes down, (it's) next man up. So, I feel like I got the next man up mentality and I've been ready for this opportunity for a while...with David (Montgomery) out, (I'm hoping) for a big role. We'll see. I'm going seize the moment on any opportunity I get out there"
Jefferson noted how much he has learned from Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs.
"(They taught me) a lot. Just how they both run. Watching them for these past two years, Jahmyr (Gibbs) and David (Montgomery), seeing how they (act). Just being a pro. Being professional. How they go through work off the field and on the field."
Jefferson had 15 carries for 74 yards as a rookie, and it seems he made a real push for a 53-man roster spot during this year's training camp. The Lions are lined up to give Gibbs the majority of the carries with Montgomery out. Craig Reynolds and Sione Vaki are behind him, but Jefferson could be a factor too.
Jermar Jefferson may get his long-awaited opportunity
In a broad sense, head coach Dan Campbell has faith in any player who may have to step up to fill an injury void.
"Look, you just can't convince me that (the sky is falling), Campbell said. "I just don't believe it. We've got plenty here and I'll tell you what, when we come out of a game and everything that we said we had to do including our identity, we do that for 60 minutes and we lose a game, I'll stand up here and tell you 'we just don't have enough.' Until that happens, you're not going to hear me say anything about what we have or don't have. We got plenty here on the whole roster."
Scottie Montgomery spoke to reporters on Wednesday. When asked about Reynolds and Vaki stepping up, the Lions' running backs coach took the opportunity to talk about Jefferson.
“Jermar Jefferson is a guy that I’m very proud of coming out of camp," Scottie Montgomery said. "I thought this guy had tremendous value. Sione had tremendous value, Craig had tremendous value. They have an unbelievable opportunity today in practice to compete against each other for some of these opportunities. There are a little bit more opportunities."
"Jermar, tremendous short-area quickness, good vision in the run game,” Montgomery continued. “Did a tremendous job in camp of creating a lot of explosive (plays). He actually might have had the most explosives in camp in real running settings. He did a really good job for us.”
What Jefferson's role in the Lions' offense looks like going forward is to be determined. But he's ready for a long-awaited chance, and it's absolutely noteworthy that Scottie Montgomery seemed determined to mention him.