The Detroit Lions have a hole in their running back room after moving on from David Montgomery. They will get a chance to address that need in free agency, but they'll have one less option to choose from. On Wednesday, it was reported by One West Sports Group that the Green Bay Packers are re-signing running back Chris Brooks.
The contract comes out to a two-year, $4.85 million deal, keeping him away from free agency. While Brooks isn't a household name, he's flashed with the opportunities that have been thrown his way.
Now that he's returning to Green Bay, the Lions can cross him off the list as a potential option.
Chris Brooks Re-Signing with Packers Takes Away One RB Option from Lions
Brooks has been a depth piece in Green Bay for the last two years. Although he hasn't been asked to start, he appeared in 32 games for them. In those outings, Brooks had 63 carries for 289 rushing yards and one score. He also reeled in 24 passes (30 targets) for 160 yards.
The Packers have only asked him to play in 19% of the offensive snaps the last two seasons, but he also lines up on special teams. Last season, Brooks played in a career-high 55% of the special teams plays, illustrating that Green Bay is using him in multiple different ways.
Nonetheless, the Lions will have other outlets and options to add to their running back room. They have the luxury of Jahmyr Gibbs being their star in the backfield. He's a threat to score every time he touches the ball, but the Lions still need to find a capable backup.
Injuries are always a factor, but having someone who could spell Gibbs at times will help keep him fresh throughout the course of a game.
Montgomery played a big role in this offense during this time there. He's had at least 158 carries in three straight seasons and was often featured in the game plan. With that in mind, the silver lining is that there will be plenty of RB options for the Lions in both free agency and the 2026 NFL draft.
Gibbs is eligible for an extension, and there's a good chance that it will happen this offseason. With the possibility of him becoming the highest-paid running back, the Lions will need to sign other cost-effective running backs, meaning general manager Brad Holmes will likely be eyeing veterans on one-year deals and rookie options.
The Lions need to add a tailback that won't make a dent in the salary cap. Someone like Brooks could have done that, but that possibility is off the table. With free agency opening up in a few days, it'll be interesting to see which path Detroit will take to solve its RB2 need.