Training camp is in full swing for the Detroit Lions and many players are looking to make a positive impression heading into the season. Star players such as Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jahmyr Gibbs may see the camp as more of a necessity than an opportunity but those on the back end of the depth chart are looking to seize a meaningful role on a team that has Super Bowl aspirations in 2025.
Of course, those opportunities don’t always go to plan. An early injury has sabotaged one Lions running back’s plans for the upcoming season and was made even worse when Dan Campbell made a surprising reveal when talking to reporters this week.
Campbell says the Lions want to "expand [Vaki's role" this upcoming season. https://t.co/RzExVpGkIB
— Nolan Bianchi (@nolanbianchi) July 22, 2025
Sione Vaki’s Hamstring Injury Came as Lions Look for Expanded Role
Campbell shed some light on Sione Vaki’s injury, which occurred as the Lions held their second training camp practice on Monday. While the injury was designated as a hamstring injury, Campbell also revealed it came at the worst possible time as the Lions are looking for an expanded role for the second-year running back.
“That was unfortunate,” Campbell said via Rainer Sabin of the Detroit Free Press. “We’re really high on him from an offensive standpoint, certainly special teams. …We feel like just athletically, size-wise, explosiveness, power, there’s versatility in what he can do. …He might be able to play multiple roles, multiple positions.”
An expanded role makes sense for Vaki. A converted safety from his days at the University of Utah, Vaki was announced as a running back when he was selected by the Lions in the fourth round of the 2024 draft. He spent his rookie season largely on special teams, posting a 90.5 grade on 332 snaps according to Pro Football Focus and posted strong explosion scores with a 39.5-inch vertical and 10-foot-5-inch broad jump at the scouting combine.
Giving Vaki an expanded role also checks out when you look at the Lions backfield. David Montgomery will remain the Lions’ power back heading into this season but new offensive coordinator John Morton has also experimented with using Gibbs as an outside receiver to take advantage of his pass-catching ability.
A lot of this may have depended on how Vaki responded to his new role but it seems those plans have been put on ice. If Vaki recovers quickly, he could be in line for a breakout season. If not, it could be another lost year for a player the Lions are clearly high on.