Lions Part Ways With Rookie RB After 2,300-Yard Career

The Detroit Lions were hit hard by injuries in the 2024 season, losing several key players for long stretches including a season-ending broken leg for star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson.

The team is already getting bit by the injury bug this summer, leading the team to part ways with a promising rookie running back after he suffered an injury.

Lions Making Cuts in the Backfield

The Lions announced on August 4 that they waived rookie running back Kye Robichaux with an injury designation. The former Boston College tailback was looking to stand out in a crowded backfield but faced an uphill challenge in making the final roster, with SI.com’s Vito Chirco predicting that fellow rookie Anthony Tyus III would beat him out for the final spot on the roster.

“As for Robichaux, he spent his first two seasons at Western Kentucky followed by his final two at Boston College. In his final campaign with the Eagles, he recorded 744 yards and 10 touchdowns on 175 carries,” Chirco wrote. “At this present juncture, I believe that Tyus is ahead of Robichaux on the team’s RB depth chart.”

In the end, neither Tyus nor Robichaux would make the roster. The Lions waived Tyus with a non-football illness in July. As Jeff Risdon of USA Today’s Lions Wire noted at the time, Tyus had impressed at the team’s spring practices and had a good chance to vie for a roster spot.

“Tyus is an undrafted rookie from Ohio University and a product of Portage Northern HS in Kalamazoo,” Risdon wrote. “He had impressed during rookie minicamp and OTA sessions with his hard-charging running style and soft hands in the passing game. He was expected to compete for a practice squad role as a UDFA.”

Robichaux finished his four-year college career with 2,342 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns, adding 44 receptions for 368 yards and another two receiving touchdowns.

The Lions could have the opportunity to bring back Robichaux once he recovers from his injury, though it was not clear how much time he could miss. But should the team get hit hard by injuries at some point in the season and need more depth either on the active roster or practice squad, they could return to a player already known and liked by the coaching staff.

Bigger Role for Second-Year Running Back

The Lions could have plans to give a bigger role to a member of the backfield who was buried on the depth chart last season. Rookie Sione Vaki showed value both on offense and special teams last season despite not getting many carries, Chrico noted.

“Vaki, a fourth-round pick of the Lions a year ago, suited up for 16 games as a rookie,” Chirco wrote. “He contributed 14 rushing yards and 37 reception yards on six carries and three catches, respectively. He also added eight tackles and a forced fumble on 310 special teams snaps.”

But the Lions will likely return to the duo of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, who in 2024 proved to be the league’s most effective rushing duo. Gibbs recorded 1,929 yards from scrimmage and a league-leading 20 all-purpose touchdowns, while Monthomert added 1,116 all-purpose yards and 12 total touchdowns.