The Detroit Lions made the rounds earlier this week, but not for the best reasons. Isiah Pacheco is dealing with yet another injury, and watching them bring in Kareem Hunt for a workout reeked of desperation.
If signing an underwhelming former Kansas City Chiefs back wasn't bad enough, bringing in his older sidekick wasn't much better. However, it showed that this team might still be unsettled at one of the most crucial positions.
However, that shouldn't be the case anymore. If anything, the backups showed Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes that they don't need to bring in any outside help. In fact, they might even give Pacheco a run for his money for the RB2 spot.
Lions' running back depth looks pretty solid
Trayveon Williams and Jacob Saylors kept their foot on the gas in the 25-16 win over the Indianapolis Colts. They combined for 157 yards and two rushing touchdowns, and they've been bright spots on offense all through the preseason.
With Sione Vaki most likely gone and Pacheco set to miss the start of the season, it's normal to see the Lions keeping an eye out on free agency and the waiver wire, but the answer to their prayers might be right in front of them.
The running game will be a point of emphasis for offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, but it's not like this team doesn't have a well-established superstar at the position. Jahmyr Gibbs just became the league's highest-paid running back, and as such, he'll be options 1A and 1B in the backfield.
Saylors and Williams should be more than capable of holding down the fort in Pacheco's absence and maybe even make him expendable. They can alternate behind Gibbs in short-yardage situations and do their damage between the tackles to keep Gibbs out of harm's way.
There's nothing Kareem Hunt can bring to the table at this point in his career. He's old, slow, and inefficient. The Lions' decision to sign Pacheco was polarizing as is, and there's no need to double down by adding a guy who couldn't even find a deal earlier in the offseason.
It's not like the Lions will have many touches to spare anyway. And while they might not be Sonic & Knuckles, Saylors and Williams certainly put out their best impression to let the team know they don't have to look further or elsewhere for the right guys for the job.
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