Lions HC Dan Campbell gives surprising update on RB David Montgomery's injury status
After nearly needing season-ending knee surgery, Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery is expected to return for the team's divisional-round playoff game next week.
At a news conference on Tuesday, Lions head coach Dan Campbell told reporters he expects Montgomery to be available for the team's first game of the postseason. The Lions were hit with an injury bug to key players this season, so this is good news for the NFC's No. 1 seed.
But it's also surprising news, considering it was Campbell who confirmed reports that Montgomery might need season-ending surgery after suffering an MCL injury in the Lions' Week 15 loss to the Buffalo Bills. After that game, Montgomery remained hopeful when asked about the severity of his injury and sought further medical advice.
According to The Athletic's Colton Pouncy and Amos Morale III, Montgomery obtained second and third opinions, and the Lions ultimately kept him off injured reserve. Montgomery has also been telling his teammates that he would be ready for the playoffs. Now, he looks set to rejoin the Lions at the perfect time.
With the Lions' 31-9 drubbing of the Minnesota Vikings in Week 18, they earned a first-round bye, which means another crucial week of rest. Montgomery will still probably have a limited role in his first game back, but it gives offensive coordinator Ben Johnson a key weapon back for the playoffs.
Prior to his injury, Montgomery recorded 775 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns as part of a two-pronged attack with running back Jahmyr Gibbs — the top touchdown scorer in 2024.
In the regular season, Gibbs and Montgomery combined for 2,187 rushing yards. According to ESPN, the duo were given the nicknames "Sonic" and "Knuckles" based on their unique skill sets that work so well together. Gibbs is "Sonic" thanks to his speed in open space, while Montgomery is "Knuckles" due to his strength.
The running backs have helped the Lions offense become perhaps the most formidable in the NFL. The team made history this season by scoring 564 points — the fourth-most points in NFL history. With Montgomery back in the fold, the Lions can continue right where they left off and keep opposing teams off balance with a diverse run game while lighting up the scoreboard.
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