The Detroit Lions are shaking things up on their roster, and it is all happening because their training camp is already hit with a few injuries. They just inked running back Raheem Blackshear, simultaneously waiving wide receiver Lawrence Keys with an injury designation. It is a classic camp shuffle, but it tells you a lot about where this team is at right now.
Who Is Raheem Blackshear and Why Do the Lions Need Him?
So, who is Raheem Blackshear? This dude went undrafted back in 2022 and has bounced around the league since then, spending time with the Bills, Panthers (from 2022-2024), Titans, Steelers, and Jets. He actually saw some action with the Panthers for three seasons, playing in 41 games and even getting two starts. Over that stretch, he carried the ball 52 times for 203 yards and scored three touchdowns. Plus, he snagged another 16 catches for 138 yards. But honestly, his bread and butter was special teams, where he racked up 405 snaps over those three seasons. Since then, it has mostly been practice squad stints with the Titans, Steelers, and Jets, and a month earlier this year with the UFL’s Columbus Aviators where he didn’t even hit the field. At 5-foot-9, 190 pounds, he is not a power back, but he brings decent quickness, a clear willingness to play special teams, and he is ready to get in there as a pass protector. This is a guy who fights for a spot, no doubt.
The Backfield Woes That Force These Moves
This move did not happen in a vacuum, though. It comes hot on the heels of reserve running back Sione Vaki suffering a poked eye and broken nose at training camp. We do not know how long he is out, but head coach Dan Campbell sounded pretty chill about it, saying Tuesday, “He’s going to be out for a little bit here. We’re hopeful vision should be okay in time. We’re not going to have him here today. Just going to let him kind of recover a little bit. So, we think he’ll be okay. He’s just going to need a minute here.” That is a relief, but it is still a loss. And to make matters worse, their top guy, Jahmyr Gibbs, is still holding out for a new contract. Talk about a mess in the backfield! On the wide receiver front, Keys got hit with a hamstring injury on Monday. If he clears waivers, he could end up on the Lions’ injured reserve list. Man, they are already dealing with some serious bumps and bruises.
So, the Lions are patching things up early in camp, adding a special teams grinder in Blackshear while hoping Vaki’s injuries are not long term and Gibbs’ holdout wraps up. Every team faces these challenges, but the Detroit coaching staff has got their hands full right now trying to get their roster healthy and ready to roll.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pride of Detroit.
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