The Detroit Lions have been hard at work figuring out how to take a step forward following significant roster and coaching turnover during the offseason. They fell short against the Washington Commanders in the playoffs, though this is a roster that should be expected to compete for a Super Bowl title once again under head coach Dan Campbell.
That said, they've seen plenty of players leave in recent years. Among those is current Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift, who was drafted in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft by Detroit.
He's been solid, yet unspectacular, and it looks like he could lose his job by the time training camp rolls around.
Roschon Johnson
— FantasyNerdBoi (@NerdBoiTakes) June 24, 2025
Ben Johnson in town and he already kicked Swift off a team once before
Johnson offers straight line speed, between the tackles skillset that nobody else possesses on this roster
2 headed monster at worst, favored runner by mid season at best pic.twitter.com/LUKBguxvVU
Former Lions RB D'Andre Swift Could Lose His Job Next Month
Swift was fairly productive for the Bears, though his underlying metrics left a lot to be desired. He rushed 253 times for 959 yards and six TDs, adding 42 catches for 386 yards through the air. However, his 3.8 yards per carry average was terrible and while a lot of the problems can be attributed to the offensive line and Matt Eberflus' poor coaching, it's still a concern.
Roschon Johnson, originally a fourth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, showed significant promise over the last couple of years and could take Swift's role should new head coach Ben Johnson prioritize youth and development.
He averaged a paltry 2.7 yards per carry in 2024 though was largely used in less-than-opportune times. Johnson managed six TDs in just 55 carries, so he was primarily serving as a goal-line option. When given the opportunity, he's been effective in a similar dual-threat role that Swift serves.
There's also the seventh-round rookie out of Rutgers, Kyle Monangai, who has turned heads in summer workouts and could demand a role as soon as Week 1. If Johnson, who has left Swift go before already, prefers Johnson and Monangai, Swift will be on the chopping block quickly.
We'll see what happens, but this is a storyline to watch and given how effective Detroit's running game has been, it's clear that general manager Brad Holmes made the right decision to move on from him.