Injuries continue to infiltrate the Super Bowl chances of the Detroit Lions. Now they have spread like a virus to the offensive side of the ball.
Running back David Montgomery sustained a torn MCL during Sunday’s 48-42 loss to Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills and could miss the rest of the season, including the playoffs, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported on Monday afternoon.
Montgomery is undergoing further tests to determine the seriousness and next steps in the rehab process, according Rapoport.
The half back limped off the field in the second quarter on Sunday but miraculously was able to return to the game. His final snap came with 10:34 remaining in the fourth quarter, according Next Gen Stats.
This latest injury puts the Lions behind the eight ball and leaves them without a huge piece of their two-headed monster, Jahmyr Gibbs and Montgomery, affectionately known as Sonic and Knuckles. While Gibbs is a master of the big-play speedster role, Montgomery was the hard hat, lunch pail steady workhorse who kept the Lions in favorable downs and distances, bulldozing his way through tackles, and converted short-yardage and goal-line situations. His extended absence will take away a dangerous and potent weapon out of the backfield.
Without Montgomery, the Lions will likely feature Gibbs as their bell cow with a heavier workload on his shoulders. Craig Reynolds could fill in playing the short-yardage role, and rookie Sione Vaki could get some reps and opportunities down the stretch.
In October, the Lions agreed to a two-year extension with Montgomery, ensuring the pairing with Gibbs would continue on into the future. Now, they might not see the field together again until the 2025 season.
It is a heartbreaking and brutal injury for a Lions team that has been obliterated in recent weeks, mostly on defense. Rapoport reported on Monday that defensive lineman Alim McNeill suffered a season-ending ACL tear, and cornerback Carlton Davis is out six weeks with a fractured jaw.
Embed from Getty ImagesPrior to Sunday’s crop of injuries, the Lions had a whooping 18 players on injured reserve, including 13 defenders alone. Aidan Hutchinson, Marcus Davenport, Alex Anzalone, Derrick Barnes, John Cominsky and Kalif Raymond are on the top of the list of key Detroit injuries.
The Lions sits at 12-2 and have already wrapped up a spot in the postseason, but the injuries piling up have brought the gamete of emotions to a team and the city with Super Bowl aspirations.
The loss to the Bills snapped the Lions’ league-high 11-game winning streak. The Lions still are in the top spot in the NFC playoff bracket, holding the tiebreaker over the Philadelphia Eagles (12-2), who beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-13on Sunday, based on winning percentage in conference games, with three games to go.
