At halftime of the Detroit Lions’ recent loss to the Los Angeles Rams, the backfield workload was split right down the middle-David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs each had six carries. Montgomery turned his touches into 31 yards, averaging a strong 5.2 yards per carry. Gibbs, on the other hand, managed just 19 yards, a modest 3.2 YPC.
But coming out of the locker room, the script flipped. Montgomery saw the ball just once more-a 1-yard touchdown run on a direct snap. Gibbs carried it seven more times in the second half, but the results didn’t improve: just 19 more yards, dropping his average to 2.7 YPC on the day.
Now, part of that shift can be chalked up to game flow. The Lions found themselves trailing by two scores in a hurry, and that likely nudged the coaching staff toward the more explosive Gibbs. But zoom out, and this game feels like a snapshot of how the Lions’ backfield dynamic has evolved in 2025.
Compared to last season, Montgomery’s role has clearly diminished. He’s averaging 3.5 fewer rushing attempts, 10 fewer rushing yards, and even 1.1 fewer receptions per game.
In 2024, he was often the tone-setter, the first back on the field. This year, it’s been Gibbs getting the opening nod in all 14 games.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell addressed the shift on Wednesday, and while he didn’t shy away from acknowledging Montgomery’s reduced touches, he was quick to praise the veteran’s approach.
“David is a pro. He goes about his business, he handles it,” Campbell said.
“I know that’s not easy. You’re a guy who-he’s a damn good back.
Every good player wants their chance to help the team win and get some production. I know it can’t be easy, but he’s a pro.
He handles his business and goes about it, and whenever you call his number, he’s ready to go.”
That last part is key. Montgomery may not be getting the volume he’s used to, but when his number is called, he delivers.
That 1-yard touchdown? A perfect example of him staying ready.
Campbell also made it clear that Montgomery still matters to this offense-and that the coaching staff is actively looking for ways to get him more involved.
“It’s something I think about a lot,” Campbell said. “How do we get them all involved?
He’s one of those guys-when they’re all involved, we’re just better. We’re a better offense.”
The challenge, of course, is opportunity. With several tight ends dealing with injuries, the Lions have already started experimenting with more two-back sets, hoping to get both Montgomery and Gibbs on the field at the same time. But Campbell hinted at another possible adjustment: breaking away from the one-series-per-back rotation that’s been the norm.
“Maybe before that, do we start tagging some things for him to get him involved early in Jah’s series, and get Jah a breather,” Campbell said. “It’s one thing to bring him in, but maybe we find ways to work him in earlier.”
Translation: Montgomery doesn’t have to wait for his series. He could be sprinkled in more situationally, giving Gibbs a breather while still keeping the offense unpredictable and balanced.
Whether that materializes over the Lions’ final three-game stretch remains to be seen. But one thing is clear-Campbell hasn’t forgotten about No.
- And if Detroit wants to make a serious push down the stretch, finding ways to re-integrate Montgomery’s physical, downhill style could be a key piece of the puzzle.