Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery's usage has been an ongoing point of debate this season. While there was an early call for him to get more touches, poor performances against the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles quickly changed the sentiment among fans. While this is a debate that will likely continue into the 2026 offseason, there is no question that Thursday's performance highlighted the perfect way to get Montgomery more involved in the offense.
Montgomery scored a touchdown in Thursday's 31-24 loss to the Green Bay Packers, flashing a clear skillset that the Lions must continue to utilize. Head coach Dan Campbell had Montgomery line up in the wildcat formation, and it clearly threw the defense off balance. Twice, the Lions had chances for big plays utilizing this around the goalline, and it gave some identity for what should happen moving forward.
Not only should Detroit use Montgomery in the wildcat more often, but the flow of this game clearly indicated it's time to realize where the veteran is at his best. Jahmyr Gibbs is the big-play threat to Montgomery's more limited and punishing style of rushing, making clear where this should be used in the final weeks of the season.
Lions Have a David Montgomery Game Plan After Week 13
By the time the game finished, Montgomery ended up with 32 rushing yards and a TD on eight carries, as well as two catches for 16 receiving yards. His 48 total yards from scrimmage made for his best performance since Campbell took over play-calling duties in Week 10, while his score marked the first time he hit pay dirt since Week 9.
The Lions are already in a dire situation. Playoff seeding is on the line, and they're turning to retired players to attempt to breathe life back into the team. With this in mind, the coaching staff must maximize all players' strengths. That's why it makes sense to look at Montgomery's usage and realize that it is time for the back to be used as a scoring threat and in short-yardage situations.
Watching the veteran rusher play, it is obvious that there is a nose for the endzone and an ability to run through defenses when he's close to scoring that many playmakers simply lack. Thursday's wildcat call highlighted those skills, so it'd be in the Lions' best interest to put them on display as often as possible in the right situations.
Getting inside the red zone could be considered the time to switch to the more powerful back and spare Gibbs from so much punishment. It seemed to be a strategy that Campbell leaned on against the Packers and one that should be further explored in the weeks to come, especially with two divisional contests against the Chicago Bears happening in the next three games.
As Gibbs continues to put himself in the conversation as the league's best back, it is incredibly important that the Lions balance protecting their star while also getting him enough touches. This paints a picture of why it makes sense to move forward with Montgomery as a red zone weapon as the workload on Gibbs continues to grow.