The Detroit Lions just dropped a bombshell on the NFL transaction list, hosting former Pro Bowl running back Kareem Hunt at their facility on Tuesday. This is a fascinating move, considering Hunt’s wild career journey, and it immediately puts a spotlight on Detroit’s backfield situation heading into the regular season.
From Rookie Sensation to Controversial Comeback
Let’s talk about Kareem Hunt for a second. This dude, now 29, was a third-round pick back in 2017, and he absolutely blew up in his rookie year with the Kansas City Chiefs. We’re talking 1,327 rushing yards, eight touchdowns, and a crazy 4.9 yards per carry. That was his best career season, no doubt. But then things got rough. He had that ugly off-field incident, with video surfacing of him assaulting a 19-year-old girl, and the Chiefs cut him loose less than two years in. He never faced criminal charges, but it was a massive fall from grace. He spent five seasons with the Browns after that, then went back to the Chiefs in 2024. What’s wild is that he’s actually coming off a pretty solid year in 2024, eclipsing 700 rushing yards for the third time in his career (the others were 2018 and 2020). He logged 611 yards, 3.7 yards per carry, and eight touchdowns. The ironic kicker? He actually outpaced current Lions running back Isiah Pacheco in 2024, who only managed 462 yards and a single rushing touchdown despite starting 12 games. Talk about a twist!
Lions’ Backfield Drama and Secondary Searches
So, why are the Lions even looking at Hunt? It’s all about depth, my friends. They just got hit hard in their last preseason game, losing two running backs. Raheem Blackshear went to injured reserve and was released, and Jabari Small got a concussion playing against the Commanders. They still have Jahmyr Gibbs, Sione Vaki, Jacob Saylors, Trayveon Williams, and newly signed Roydell Williams healthy, but you can bet they don’t want to overwork those guys in the preseason finale. And here’s the kicker: their presumed RB2, Isiah Pacheco, has been sidelined with an MCL sprain. Coach Dan Campbell said two weeks ago they weren’t “fearful” about it threatening Pacheco’s start to the season, adding, “We feel pretty good about him being ready to go, certainly when the season gets here.” Still, an MCL sprain is no joke, and Hunt’s visit tells you everything about their concern. On top of the running back situation, Detroit also hosted two cornerbacks for tryouts: Shaun Jolly and Eric Scott. Jolly, undrafted in 2022, is a smaller guy at 5-foot-9, 180 pounds, who brings some versatility after spending three seasons with the Rams and missing all of 2025 due to injury. Scott, a 2023 sixth-round pick, is a bigger 6-foot-2, 197-pound pure outside corner who’s been on practice squads but hasn’t seen NFL action yet.
This visit for Kareem Hunt is huge for the Lions. Will he sign? Will he be the insurance policy they need or even push Pacheco for snaps when the season kicks off? The next few days, leading up to their preseason finale, are going to be wild as Detroit sorts out their roster depth.
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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