(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
One of the biggest storylines for the Detroit Lions this season is the way that they have handled Jahmyr Gibbs.
The Lions used significant draft capital to acquire Gibbs, but his usage this year hasn’t necessarily reflected their initial investment.
David Montgomery was receiving a bulk of the Lions’ work at running back, but he is now injured.
In his absence, the team was forced to rely more heavily on Gibbs during their recent Monday Night Football game against the Los Angeles Raiders.
Gibbs not only answered the call when Montgomery was out but put together a historic performance.
According to the Detroit Lions PR, Gibbs is the first Lions rookie to record over 100 rushing yards and 30 receiving yards since Barry Sanders did so in 1989.
.@Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs is Detroit’s first rookie RB to produce a game with 100+ rushing yards and 30+ receiving yards since RB @BarrySanders in 1989.#OnePride pic.twitter.com/nbJn89ZvN9
— Detroit Lions PR (@LionsPR) October 31, 2023
Gibbs ended the night with 152 rushing yards on 26 carries along with five receptions for 37 yards.
His fingerprints were all over this game, and when the Lions offense struggled at times, Gibbs was a catalyst for the rest of his teammates.
The Lions might have been using Gibbs and Montgomery in a split capacity, but if this game is a sign of what is to come, Montgomery’s role will likely be significantly reduced.
Being compared to Sanders is not a small feat.
He is one of the best Lions players of all time and is also recognized as one of the NFL’s great running backs.
For Gibbs to be in that company is an impressive accomplishment, and now that the Lions know he’s capable of monster performances, their offense could be unlocked on a new level.
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