Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) celebrates after scoring during Detroit Lions vs Los Angeles Rams at Ford Field in Detroit on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. Josh Boland | MLive.com
David Montgomery missed the last three weeks of the NFL season with an MCL injury, coinciding with the emergence of his backfield teammate Jahmyr Gibbs as a “solo act.” The situation raised questions about Montgomery’s role upon his return to the Detroit Lions’ lineup.
Following Tuesday’s practice, the sixth-year running back addressed those questions — and then some.
Montgomery spoke with reporters for the first time since suffering the injury in a Week 15 loss to the Buffalo Bills at Ford Field. Although it was just a walkthrough, Montgomery returned to practice, expressing how refreshing it was to be in a position to help his team again.
While speaking, he also addressed early reporting about his injury status.
“I think the speculations that I was getting surgery or that (it) was kind of the end-all-be-all, nobody really ever knew. So when it got put out, I didn’t know that I was getting surgery until the media told me, so it was news to me,” Montgomery said. “But I’m always pretty confident in who I am and how I prepare. I mean, I know who my God is too, so it ain’t really too much or anything that I know that I can’t overcome when I know who is the head of my life.
“So I continue to give God the praise and ensure myself that I’m doing everything in his name and I’m where I’m supposed to be because I’m supposed to be here. It’s never been up to me. It’ll never be up to me, but it’s his way, so it’ll be his way.”
With Montgomery sidelined after starting the first 15 games of the season, Gibbs stepped in as the Lions’ primary bell cow, delivering a breakout performance in nearly outing to close the regular season.
Over those three games, Gibbs amassed 365 rushing yards and five touchdowns while catching 13 passes for 122 yards and another touchdown. He was a key factor in the Lions’ Week 18 win over the Minnesota Vikings, scoring all of the team’s touchdowns and bringing his season total to a league-best 20.
For most of the past two seasons, the Lions have leaned on Montgomery and Gibbs as their two-headed rushing attack.
However, with Gibbs showcasing his full potential to close the season, Montgomery appears willing to embrace a complementary role.
“I mean, he a dog. He’s evident enough,” Montgomery said. “Jah is special, he’s generational talent, and I didn’t expect anything less from him. So Jah’s going to roll. I’m going to just kind of, whatever he needs from me, I’m going to make sure he has. But this kind of his show.”
On Saturday, the Lions will host the Washington Commanders at Ford Field in a divisional-round matchup to determine who advances to the NFC Championship.
While Gibbs has been outstanding, Montgomery’s return could ease his workload. Montgomery shared that he is not on a “pitch count” and no extra precautions will be taken, as he is ready to contribute fully.
“It was just lock in, kind of put the horse blinders on and silence the noise of the world and just kind of attack it every day, no matter what the day looks like,” Montgomery said of his mindset after being cleared to play. “As long as I get an opportunity to wake up every day, no matter how the day before looked, I got (a chance) to change.
“So I kind of looked at it that way and put my best foot forward every chance that I got. Like I said, God put me here for something here now.”
Montgomery explained that his rehab focused on strengthening his knee and breaking down scar tissue, describing the process as “pretty physical (and) pretty strenuous.”
As he prepares to return against the Commanders, Montgomery, known as the Lions’ “tone setter,” said his main goal is simply to play football.
“I try to respect the game as much as I can. I know this game saved my life in a lot of ways,” Montgomery said. “So, I mean, it’s only my job to try to give back to this game that’s taken me farther than I could ever imagine. So it’s cool that people see me as a tone setter, but it is just my respect for the game.”
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