Detroit Lions fans have a clear favorite for the RB2 conversation, but the answer may not be as settled inside the building.
Earlier this week, an SB Nation Reacts survey sponsored by FanDuel Sportsbook asked Lions fans which running back would get the majority of Isiah Pacheco’s snaps. With Jahmyr Gibbs locked in as the clear RB1 and “bell cow,” the bigger question is who handles the work left behind by Pacheco’s move to injured reserve.
That’s where the fan debate split between Sione Vaki and Jacob Saylors. More than 90% of the fan base landed on one of those two, and Saylors drew the bulk of the support after a preseason in which he started all three games and looked steady, technically sound, and productive even while working behind the reserve offensive line.
A few of the comments pointed to the same basic case for Saylors. grimy0185 wrote, “I think it will become clear pretty early on that Saylors is RB2 with or without Pacheco on the active roster.”
Prof_SJR added, “Would hope Vaki has progressed to the point where he is RB2, but he is also highly valued on special teams. Seems like Saylors has shown better pure RB skills.”
Lions86 put it this way: “Ultimately, I think Saylors will be RB2; he is just more of a natural running back, and he can catch the ball out of the backfield too. It might come down to who can block in the backfield best.”
Still, the vote didn’t match my view. Saylors did plenty to help his case in the preseason, but fans who weren’t at training camp didn’t get the full picture of what Vaki has been doing on offense, since he didn’t appear in preseason games. Some of that was injury-related, and some of it was the coaching staff keeping him out of those situations.
What gets overlooked is that Vaki has been operating as RB2 while Pacheco has been out, and his skill set gives him a real path to snaps. Saylors is the steadier, more experienced option.
Vaki is bigger, brings more power in short-yardage work, and has the hands of a former receiver. But the trait that could matter most is pass protection.
Vaki is an ELITE pass protector, and that kind of trust can get a back on the field in just about any situation.
A couple of fans made that same argument in the comments. ULTIMATEpunisher007 said, “I do think it’s Vaki.
It’s not just running the ball but also pass blocking. As an RB, you have to be confident in picking up the blitz and protecting your QB.
I think Dan will trust Vaki in that role to protect Goff before Saylors. He’s basically acting as the personal protector for the QB.”
Waitingsince57 echoed that idea: “The coaching staff “seems” to trust Vaki WAY more than the fan base. They see him every day in practice, where we have hardly ever seen him in action due to his injuries.
Saylors performed great in the preseason but not against NFL starters. Coaches will decide, and I think it will be Vaki.“
In Other News...
Lions Suddenly Have A Real Concern About Their Bills Trip
The trip to Buffalo has picked up an unexpected wrinkle for Detroit, with the Bills re-sodding the field at Highmark Stadium ahead of the home opener after poor turf conditions drew heavy scrutiny. What was supposed to be a straightforward early-season road test has turned into a conversation about the surface itself, after a sod expert called it the worst he has seen in the NFL and agronomists raised questions about whether a new grass field can be installed in time.
The Bills are still projecting confidence that the field will clear NFL standards once it is inspected, but that assurance does not do much to quiet the concern around a game that already carries plenty of weight for both teams. For the Lions, the issue is not just the usual challenge of playing in Buffalo, it is the added uncertainty of what kind of playing surface will be waiting when they get there. [Read more 🡒]
Brad Holmes' Trade History Says Plenty About Detroit's CB2 Rumors
Brad Holmes left the door open just enough to keep the conversation going, but his track record tells a clearer story about how the Lions usually operate. After roster cuts, the Detroit general manager said he was satisfied with the cornerback room, even as the uncertainty around Terrion Arnold has kept the CB2 discussion alive. That combination has fueled outside chatter about whether Detroit might chase help at the position, with Joey Porter Jr. of the Steelers becoming a popular name in the speculation.
Still, Holmes has rarely treated draft capital like something to spend lightly, and that caution matters here. He has already acknowledged how difficult in-season trades can be, and his tendency to protect high picks makes a deal like this feel like a long shot unless the market changes quickly. For a team trying to keep its defense steady without sacrificing future flexibility, the real question is not whether the need exists but whether Holmes would ever pay the price to address it. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Practice Squad Names Could Matter Faster Than Fans Expected
The Lions have spent the early part of roster-building not just sorting out the 53, but lining up the next wave of help on the practice squad. That group is more than a holding pattern in Detroit, where injuries and performance swings can turn the back end of the roster into a weekly question, and four names already stand out as the most obvious candidates to be moved up if the season starts to test the depth chart.
Tom Kennedy, Nick Whiteside, Mason Miller and Joe Bachie all showed enough in preseason or fit the current roster picture well enough to stay close to the action. Each brings a different kind of utility, whether it is a familiar receiver option, a defensive back with a chance to plug a need, a lineman who can be developed, or a linebacker with a path to immediate usefulness. The exact timing of any promotion is still open, but for a team trying to keep itself steady through the year, those call-ups could arrive sooner than many fans expect. [Read more 🡒]