Dan Campbell just dropped a bomb about the Detroit Lions’ backup running back situation, and honestly, it is a total head-scratcher for anyone looking at the roster. Despite having Jahmyr Gibbs, the NFL’s highest-paid running back, as their absolute undisputed starter, the Lions are apparently rolling with a two-man committee behind him whose combined career rushing yards barely even get you across the field. Yeah, you read that right.
Seriously, These Numbers Are Wild
Talk about an early regular season curveball that has everyone scratching their heads! The Lions’ depth at running back has been a quiet talking point, but after this latest news, it is front and center. On paper, it looks like a major concern. You have Sione Vaki, who has a grand total of seven carries for eighteen yards in his entire NFL career. Then there is Jacob Saylors, who has logged just two carries for eleven yards. Seriously, that is a jaw-dropping total of just twenty-nine career rushing yards combined between the two guys designated as your primary backups. That is not even enough for two first downs!
This news comes hot on the heels of the Lions shipping David Montgomery off to Houston, a move that clearly signaled they are gearing up to give Gibbs a much bigger workload than he has ever seen before. Look, the dude is the highest-paid running back in the league for a reason, he is electric, but even the best need a breather sometimes, right? He is not going to be on the field for every single snap, and when he needs a moment, who exactly is stepping up?
Dan Campbell’s Bet On The “Committee”
That is where Lions head coach Dan Campbell, in his typical, absolutely unfiltered style, steps in. He is not just shrugging this off; he is straight-up telling everyone the Lions are completely fine, even confident, with a running back by committee approach for these backups. “It’s by committee,” Campbell said, flat out. He is definitely not seeing Saylors as a clear RB2, stressing that both Vaki and Saylors bring more to the table than just those paltry rushing statistics.
Campbell was quick to point to Saylors’ special teams value, mentioning the team has simply seen more of him in preseason games. But Vaki? Apparently, he has been quietly crushing it in practice. “Vaki had some pretty good reps in practice,” Campbell noted, adding that Vaki is also a very valuable special teams player. More than that, Campbell strongly believes Vaki is “ready to take some of this on as a runner and pass protector and receiver.” So, the coach, with full conviction, feels good with “either one of those guys in there when Jah needs a breather.” It is a truly bold move, leaning so heavily on guys with such limited, almost non-existent, NFL snaps, especially when your star starter is set for an increased workload. The level of trust Campbell has in his guys, even those with razor-thin resumes, is something we absolutely have to watch as this regular season unfolds.
This early season gamble by Campbell is going to be a massive storyline to track. With Jahmyr Gibbs expected to carry a huge load for the Lions, how Vaki and Saylors perform when their names are called could genuinely make or break some crucial moments for that offense. Will Campbell’s unwavering faith in his committee pay off in a big way, or will those incredibly low career numbers come back to haunt them as the season gets rolling? We’ll all be watching closely to see how this unfolds.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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