The Detroit Lions kicked off their 2026 season with an insane 31-30 overtime victory against the New Orleans Saints, and star running back Jahmyr Gibbs exploded right out of the gate with the heaviest workload of his NFL career. He put up a ridiculous 186 yards from scrimmage, showing everyone he’s ready to absolutely ball out this year.
Gibbs Went Off, Then Just Said “Fine.” Are You Kidding Me?
Gibbs absolutely carried the Lions’ offense, touching the ball a staggering 34 times. He bruised his way to 29 carries for 156 yards and punched in two touchdowns, plus he snagged five passes for another 30 yards. That’s a monster game, making it clear Detroit leaned on their guy when it mattered most. And his reaction to all that? When asked how he felt after putting up those numbers, Gibbs simply said, “Fine.” Then he saw the horde of reporters at his locker and added, “Whoa.” Seriously, that’s just ice in his veins. He isn’t worried about the grind. As he put it, “It doesn’t matter to me. I’m just trying to help the team win, no matter what that looks like.” Talk about a team-first mentality.
Campbell Rode the Hot Hand, But What’s the Plan?
Lions head coach Dan Campbell wasn’t shy about Gibbs being the engine that drove their Week 1 victory. He loved the production, and he absolutely loved the win. But let’s be real, 29 carries is a lot for any back, even for a talent like Gibbs. Campbell made it clear he’s not looking to turn that into a weekly target. “You know what I like? Winning the game, man. That guy’s our hot hand. Ultimately, do I want to set records with how many carries? No. That’s not something I want to do.” So, while Gibbs was the hero against New Orleans, it sounds like Campbell wants to manage his workload moving forward. That said, Campbell also believes Gibbs is physically prepped for more than he has handled in the past, noting, “He’s in the best shape I’ve seen him in since he’s been here. Now, that doesn’t mean we’re not going to monitor him and keep an eye on him, because we understand that, too. But we did what we had to do today.” That’s a huge vote of confidence!
New Reality for Gibbs, and Campbell Thinks There’s More
With David Montgomery no longer sharing the backfield, this season was always going to be a new reality for Gibbs. That partnership defined the Lions’ rushing attack for three seasons, but now Gibbs is the undisputed main man. He even told Montgomery “Good luck” before their respective openers, proving the bond is still there. Detroit committed to Gibbs long term this offseason, firmly establishing him as a foundational player. He was even called one of Detroit’s biggest offseason winners. Week 1 showed exactly why. What’s wild is Campbell still thinks Gibbs has another gear. “I thought it was a very promising Week 1. Certainly, we know what Gibbs is and what he’” , the coach was just getting started. It sounds like we might not have even seen his peak performance yet! This season is shaping up to be massive for Gibbs. Can he maintain this elite production while staying healthy? It’s going to be a wild ride watching him try.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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