Lions Reportedly Eyeing Position Shift for Jahmyr Gibbs Amid Injury Woes and Playoff Push
The Detroit Lions are facing a critical juncture in their season, and with injuries mounting, they may be turning to one of their most dynamic weapons in a new way. According to reports, the team is seriously considering using running back Jahmyr Gibbs at wide receiver-potentially as soon as tomorrow night’s high-stakes matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.
This comes on the heels of a tough Thanksgiving Day loss to the Green Bay Packers that dropped Detroit to 7-5. That game didn’t just sting in the standings-it came with a heavy dose of bad news on the injury front.
Star wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown exited with an ankle injury, and his status for the Dallas game remains uncertain.
Meanwhile, standout tight end Sam LaPorta-who was in the midst of a breakout campaign-is expected to miss the rest of the season following back surgery.
That’s left Detroit’s offense in a bind. With key playmakers sidelined, the Lions are reportedly looking at Gibbs as a potential solution in the passing game.
Speaking on 105.3 The FAN in Dallas, Lions insider Dave Birkett said it’s “a very distinct possibility” that Gibbs lines up at wide receiver against the Cowboys. And it’s not just a gimmick-Gibbs has already shown he can be a legitimate threat in the passing game.
Earlier this season, he hauled in double-digit receptions in a single game, and he’s currently sitting at 51 catches for 397 yards and three touchdowns.
“He had a game earlier this year where he had 10-11 catches… they’ve certainly used him that way,” Birkett noted. “They have two good playmakers and everyone else is just a guy.
And that’s Jahmyr and Jameson Williams. And they need to get the ball in those guys’ hands as much as possible.”
And he’s not wrong. With LaPorta out and St.
Brown questionable, the Lions are leaning heavily on the explosiveness of Gibbs and the big-play ability of Williams. The rest of the offensive supporting cast hasn’t stepped up consistently enough to carry the load.
Quarterback Jared Goff, after a strong 2024 season, has struggled with inconsistency. Williams, despite flashes, is still trying to find his rhythm and may fall short of the 1,000-yard mark.
The offensive line, usually a strength, has been unreliable, and the pass defense has been a liability all year.
Still, there’s a path forward. A win over Dallas would move Detroit to 8-5, keeping them squarely in the NFC playoff hunt and just one game behind the 9-4 San Francisco 49ers for the final wild card spot. And with the 9-3 Chicago Bears facing the 8-3-1 Green Bay Packers this week, one of those division rivals is guaranteed to take a hit in the standings.
Gibbs, for his part, has done everything asked of him and then some. Through 12 games, he’s racked up 1,019 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns, providing a spark every time he touches the ball. Now, with the Lions’ season hanging in the balance, he may be asked to take on an even bigger role-one that could define not just this season, but his trajectory as one of the league’s most versatile young stars.
Detroit’s playoff hopes are still alive. But to keep them that way, they’ll need to get creative-and Gibbs might just be the key to unlocking a new gear in this offense.