In line with the big contract he eventually got, Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell said running back Jahmyr Gibbs would be the offense's "bell cow" this season, and presumably until further notice.
Through six games, that has happened. Gibbs is currently on pace for 470 touches this season. That would be the second-most touches in a season in NFL history, trailing only James Wilder's 492 touches over a 16-game schedule for the 1984 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Even accounting for a 17-game season now, Gibbs is getting a throwback workload. No. 2 running back Sione Vaki has had two or fewer carries in four of six games this season, and if not for garbage time against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 5 it could very well be five of six.
The Lions originally envisioned Isiah Pacheco as their replacement for David Montgomery behind Gibbs. But a preseason back injury landed him on IR, and he's expected to be sidelined until December.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler has suggested the Lions may add a RB2. He specifically mentioned circling back to Kareem Hunt, who came to Allen Park for a visit after Pacheco was originally injured back in August.
In any case, something has to be done to lighten Gibbs' workload and any opportunities to do so late in one-sided games are fleeting. A smaller move seems likely, but there's a notable option out there who could be available.
Tyler Allgeier would be the ideal backup for Jahmyr Gibbs
Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report has named ideal landing spots for potentially available skill position players before the trade deadline. For Arizona Cardinals running back Tyler Allgeier, the Lions were tabbed as that ideal new team.
Upon signing a two-year deal with the Cardinals in March, Allgeier seemed to be in line for a lead back role after spending a few years in the shadow of Bijan Robinson with the Atlanta Falcons. Then Arizona took Jeremiyah Love with the third overall pick in April's draft. With Love out recently, Bam Knight has been a more effective back in a workload split with Allgeier.
Veteran James Conner could also come off IR soon to add another body to the Cardinals' running back room. That's quite the allocation of resources to one position there by the Arizona front office, which explains a lot.
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As Knox noted, Allgeier (225 pounds) is a comparable physical comp for Montgomery, who was the perfect complement to Gibbs. While he saw more work than Bijan Robinson's fantasy managers would've liked during his last few years with the Falcons, he also knows how to operate behind a stud running back and was very good in the role.
Knox predicted the Cardinals couldn't expected to get more than a Day 3 pick for Allgeier, if he were available. That's absolutely right, along with being right up the alley of Lions' general manager Brad Holmes as a trade cost.
A trade for Allgeier would be a high-end, and with that fairly unlikely, move for the Lions to add a new RB2. But if you're going to do it, might as well go all the way, right?
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