In what has been a historic season for the Detroit Lions, the team set franchise records for wins (15) and points scored (564). With a second consecutive NFC North title and the No. 1 seed in the NFC secured, the Lions’ offense became the highest-scoring unit in the NFL. A major contributor to this success was starting running back David Montgomery. However, the Lions’ playoff hopes were threatened when Montgomery suffered a knee injury in Week 15 during their loss to the Buffalo Bills.
The injury, later confirmed as a torn MCL in his right knee, forced Montgomery to miss the remainder of the regular season, leaving the Lions without one of their key playmakers. Despite the setback, there’s now optimism that Montgomery could return for the divisional round of the playoffs, as the Lions are set to face the Washington Commanders on Saturday.
David Montgomery’s Injury Update
In a positive turn of events, Lions head coach Dan Campbell shared on Monday that he expects Montgomery to play in the team’s playoff opener against the Commanders. “There’s a place for him here; he’s a tone-setter,” Campbell said. “There’ll be a place for him in this game, so it’s going to be good to get him back.”
Initially, Campbell had announced that Montgomery would need season-ending surgery on his knee. However, after consulting with multiple specialists, Montgomery opted for rehab, and it appears that decision is paying off, as he’s trending toward a return for the Lions’ postseason run.
Montgomery’s impact was significant during the regular season. He finished with 775 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns on 185 carries, in addition to 341 receiving yards. His performance marked the sixth consecutive season with over 1,000 yards from scrimmage to start his NFL career.
As the Lions prepare for their playoff matchup, they will face a Washington Commanders defense that struggled against the run during the regular season. The Commanders allowed the most yards before contact per carry (2.02), ranked third in the most yards per rush, and had the eighth-highest explosive run rate.
Playoff Preview: Detroit Lions vs. Washington Commanders
The No. 1 seed Detroit Lions will host the No. 6 seed Washington Commanders in the divisional round of the playoffs this Saturday night. It’s a game that promises excitement, with Montgomery’s potential return adding to the anticipation.
