The Detroit Lions offense has been one of the best in the NFL over the past two seasons. Since the start of the 2023 season, Detroit ranks first with 1,025 points and third with 6.06 yards per play and its success has been based on the presence of several playmakers.
It starts with the receiving core of Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams and also has a strong pass-catching tight end, Sam LaPorta. David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs have carved out one of the league’s top rushing attacks and Jared Goff went from a throw-in for the Matthew Stafford trade to a franchise quarterback.
This gives the Lions a plethora of weapons to throw at a team every week. But on Thursday, the Lions signed another playmaker who has been part of this offense for the past two seasons.
Lions Re-Sign RB Craig Reynolds in Free Agency
According to Dave Birkett of The Detroit Free Press, the Lions are planning to re-sign running back Craig Reynolds on a one-year deal. Reynolds has appeared in all 17 games for the Lions over the past two seasons and guarantees the Lions have some depth in the backfield ahead of the 2025 season.
Reynolds isn’t the most important member of the Lions offense, but he serves a big role. An undrafted free agent out of Kutztown (Penn.), the 28-year-old arrived in Detroit for the 2021 season and has carried the ball 151 times for 654 yards and a touchdown over the past four seasons. Reynolds also has been a contributor on special teams posting a career-high Pro Football Focus grade of 71.7 in 2023 and posting a 65.7 special teams grade on 285 snaps last season.
The Lions could have promoted 2024 fourth-round draft pick Sione Vaki to a larger role to replace Reynolds but his value as depth and a member of special teams may have given him an edge. Gibbs remains the top threat after running for a team-high 1,412 yards and NFL-high 16 touchdowns last season and Montgomery remains the “starter” running for 775 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Although Ben Johnson left the Lions to become the head coach of the Chicago Bears, new offensive coordinator John Morton has plenty to work with as he attempts to lead Detroit to become the league’s top offense for the third straight season.