The Detroit Lions’ backfield took a hit to start September when running back Isiah Pacheco landed on injured reserve, knocking the free agent signee and David Montgomery replacement out for at least the first four games of the season. That puts him on the same injury list as center Cade Mays and safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch as Week 1 approaches.
For now, the Lions look set to lean on Jacob Saylors as the RB2 behind Jahmyr Gibbs, and the former UFL standout turned in a strong preseason to make that case. Still, with the season about to begin, it would make sense to keep another veteran or two on speed dial in case the room gets thinner.
Detroit has already brought in Kareem Hunt for a workout, but if the team decides to go in another direction - or if Hunt ends up elsewhere - there are still a few free-agent backs worth considering.
Trayveon Williams is one familiar name. The Lions already had him in the building after signing him during the preseason before cutting him during roster trim-downs. The former Cincinnati Bengals back did the little things well, especially in short-yardage work, where he punched in three touchdowns, all from one yard out.
He also showed a little more pop than just goal-line duty. Williams finished with 89 rushing yards, which was 20 more than the run defense allowed over those final two preseason games, and he added a long run of 17 yards.
He’s not the kind of player who jumps off the page - his career total of 72 carries across five seasons says as much - but he handled the role the Lions asked him to play. That alone makes him a reasonable candidate to bring back.
Raheem Mostert brings a different kind of appeal. At 34, he’s the oldest back available, but he’s only one season removed from a massive 2023 in which he ran for 1,000 yards and led the NFL with 18 touchdowns. He also chipped in 175 receiving yards and three receiving scores during that Pro Bowl campaign, doing all of it in 15 games at age 31.
The last two seasons, though, have been a different story. Mostert has totaled 613 yards and two touchdowns combined for the Miami Dolphins and Las Vegas Raiders.
Signing him would mean betting that the decline was more about poor offensive line play - including what was described as a league-worst Dolphins line in 2024 - than age. Detroit’s own line was rough last season, but the preseason has offered a more encouraging glimpse, especially with the ground game producing 161.33 yards per game while Gibbs sat out.
Antonio Gibson is the most intriguing gamble of the group. He fits neatly into the RB3 and returner lane, which is exactly the kind of job he handled with the New England Patriots over the last two seasons. The concern is obvious: he’s nearly 11 months removed from an ACL tear, and for a 28-year-old back and return man, that kind of injury raises real questions.
There hasn’t been much noise around Gibson lately. He wasn’t on a roster during the preseason, and there have been no reports of him working out for a team.
That doesn’t exactly suggest a clean bill of health or a clear path back, but the upside of a move like this would be more about the stretch run than the opening month. If injuries keep piling up, having a veteran like Gibson - or the also recovering Austin Ekeler - could matter in games that carry more weight later on.
It would also keep the Lions from having to lean too heavily on someone like Sione Vaki, who could still benefit from learning behind a veteran presence.
The bigger picture is pretty simple: the available running backs aren’t exactly a glamorous bunch. But Detroit doesn’t need a savior here, especially if Saylors keeps building on what he showed in preseason. Whether the Lions want familiarity, experience, or just another body in the room, there are still options if they decide to add one before Week 1.
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It also says something about where Detroit believes its pass rush is headed. Ray Agnew described the defensive line as a strength, and the group has the names to back it up with Alim McNeill, Aidan Hutchinson, Tyleik Williams, D.J. Wonnum and Derrick Moore all part of the mix. In that kind of room, a surprise decision on the edge is less about filling a hole and more about the Lions signaling they want depth, versatility and competition to keep the pressure coming all season. [Read more 🡒]
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Williams has made steady progress in recent seasons, enough to make the idea worth serious discussion rather than a pure hypothetical. If Petzings offense leans into Williams explosiveness the way some around the league expect, the Lions could be looking at a very different pecking order in the passing game, with St. Brown still central to everything but no longer the unquestioned top producer by seasons end. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Face A Real Receiver Dilemma With Two Roster Spots Open
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Westbrook-Ikhine has mostly worked as an outside receiver, which gives Detroit a potential fit if it wants another experienced body on the boundary. The tradeoff is that he does not bring return specialist experience, so if the Lions want one of those vacant spots to help on special teams as well, the decision gets a little more complicated. [Read more 🡒]