The Detroit Lions are increasing the workload for their star running back Jahmyr Gibbs, who will face a significant test in the upcoming game against the Buffalo Bills. Gibbs's increased responsibility comes after the departure of David Montgomery, his previous backfield partner.
For the first three years of his career, Gibbs shared the backfield with Montgomery in what was known as the "Sonic and Knuckles" partnership. Montgomery was a consistent performer, averaging 853.3 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns over the past three seasons. In his first game with the Houston Texans, Montgomery scored three touchdowns in a 36-31 loss to the Bills.
Meanwhile, Gibbs saw a career-high average of 18.8 touches per game last season. In the Lions' recent 31-30 overtime win against the New Orleans Saints, Gibbs handled 34 touches, three more than his previous career high. He capitalized on this workload, rushing for 156 yards and two touchdowns, and adding 30 yards on five receptions.
Lions coach Dan Campbell expressed confidence in Gibbs's ability to recover for the upcoming Thursday game, despite the short week. "I think Gibbs is going to be recovered for Thursday," Campbell said. "I think he'll be ready to go, just like the rest of our guys, and he'll have plenty of juice in the tank." Gibbs himself stated he felt fine and could have handled even more touches during the Saints game.
Detroit's backup running back is Sione Vaki, primarily a special teams player who has only nine carries in 28 career games. The team's offensive line, which includes rookie Blake Miller at tackle and Juice Scruggs at center, performed well in the Saints game, with the Lions rushing for 165 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Jared Goff was sacked only once.
The Lions' defense, which built a 21-0 lead against the Saints, struggled in the second half, allowing the Saints to force overtime. This defensive performance is a concern with the Lions set to face quarterback Josh Allen and the Bills.
Adding to the team's challenges, two offensive line starters, guard Christian Mahogany (hip) and tackle Blake Miller (knee), may not be available for the Thursday game due to injuries. "It's a short week, so it is really about how fast we can get them back out there," Campbell noted. The team's depth at offensive line is limited, and the training staff will be working to get Mahogany and Miller ready for the matchup against Buffalo, a team that has won five consecutive games against the Lions, though all by a single score.