Jahmyr Gibbs was back on the practice field Thursday, another sign that a contract extension with the Detroit Lions may be moving closer.
According to Pride of Detroit’s Jeremy Reisman, Gibbs had been around camp since reporting last week and was taking part in meetings and spending time with teammates, but he had not practiced while waiting on a new deal. That changed Thursday, when he was in full uniform for warm-ups before moving off to the side with a trainer once the team shifted into individual drills.
That kind of gradual return suggests Gibbs is working through an acclimation process, but it also fits with the growing buzz around a possible extension. Before Thursday’s practice, The Athletic’s Jonathan Jones said conversations with sources left him optimistic and reported that a deal could “get done this week for Gibbs.”
Gibbs has kept quiet through camp. He has not formally spoken with reporters, and when asked when he expected to rejoin his teammates on the field, he offered only: “Time will tell.”
The Lions, meanwhile, have made clear they want him back in the mix. On Tuesday, Dan Campbell was asked whether other running backs landing extensions could help push this one over the line, and he said it could.
“I think it certainly’s not going to hurt,” Campbell said. “It’s not going to hurt, but we’ll see.
I’m anxious to get Gibbs back out there. Every day that goes by, that’s another day that you feel like you miss with him and getting him out there with the guys and him doing his part.
But, there again, it’ll get done when it gets done.”
General manager Brad Holmes also addressed the situation Wednesday during an appearance on SiriusXM with Pat Kirwan and Jacob Hester. Holmes said the sides are still talking and made clear how the team views Gibbs.
“Look, obviously we love Jahmyr,” Holmes said. “Me and Dan (Campbell) have always been believers in that one-two punch.
I just think that’s how this league is going now. But, you know, we’re having dialogue.
We’ll see where it goes.“
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