The injury hits kept coming on Sunday for the Detroit Lions in their loss to the Buffalo Bills. Head coach Dan Campbell didn't seem too concerned about running back David Montgomery's knee injury right after the game, but Monday it evolved from an MCL injury with further evaluation coming to Campbell later announcing Montgomery will have season-ending surgery.
Montgomery has a team-high 12 rushing touchdowns this season, with 775 rushing yards and 36 catches for 341 yards as he and Jahmyr Gibbs have been the best running back tandem in the league. In many ways, Montgomery embodies the identity the Lions want to have offensively, often as the back chosen to close out victories and demoralize an opposing defense along the way.
There's no way to truly replace Montgomery, ever or certainly at this point in the season. Gibbs will operate as the clear lead back for the rest of the season, with others behind him in lesser roles.
More: 5 fantasy football waiver wire replacements for David Montgomery
Updated Lions running back depth chart minus David Montgomery
Let's update the Lions' running back depth chart with Montgomery out.
Jahmyr Gibbs
Craig Reynolds
Sione Vaki
Jermar Jefferson (practice squad)
Gibbs is having an excellent season, with over 1,000 rushing yards (1,047) and 14 total touchdowns in 14 games. We got a glimpse of him as the Lions' lead back in the three games Montgomery missed last year, and here's what he did in those games.
Week 3, vs. Atlanta Falcons: 17 carries for 80 yards, one catch for two yards
Week 7, at Baltimore Ravens: 11 carries for 68 yards, 1 TD: nine receptions for 58 yards
Week 8, vs. Las Vegas Raiders: 26 carries for 152 yards, 1 TD; five receptions for 37 yards
Reynolds has just 12 carries so far this season as the Lions' No. 3 running back, as he has mostly played special teams (62 percent special teams snap share). He stepped into the lead back role for the Lions for a stretch late in the 2021 season, with an 83 and 112-yard outings over those three games., so he is capable when called upon.
Vaki has played primarily on special teams so far in his rookie season, with six carries and one reception. But it's fair to assume he'll see an uptick in carries with Montgomery out. He showed flashes during the preseason, and what he did as a part-time running back during his final season at Utah is still hard to fathom.
Due to seniority, Reynolds gets the nod over Vaki on the depth chart. On Monday, Campbell confirmed both will be involved in Montgomery's absence.
Campbell says Reynolds and Vaki are going to be involved in the run game going forward
— Mike Payton (@AtoZ_Payton) December 16, 2024
Jefferson was the final draft pick of Brad Holmes' first draft as Lions' general manager in 2021. He has not played in a game since that season, spending time on the practice squad and with an injury leading to him being waived at final cuts last year. He seemed to have a real chance to make the 53-man roster at one point during training camp this year, but ultimately fell short.
With some open spots coming, pending official IR placements for Sunday's injured players, Jefferson is a prime candidate to be signed to the Lions' active roster this week. If so, then it's possible a running back would be added to the practice squad.