It's Week 1 or never for running back Sione Vaki.
On Sunday, the Detroit Lions kick off the 2026 season at home against the New Orleans Saints, and Vaki could have a prime opportunity to earn the RB2 role by making the most of his opportunities.
Pacheco's injury throws Lions' running back depth into question
Former Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco, who signed a one-year, $1.81 million contract in March, was positioned to take over for David Montgomery as three-time Pro-Bowler Jahmyr Gibbs' primary backup before a back injury forced him onto the short-term injured reserve (IR) list, requiring him to miss at least the first four games of the season.
That's created an opening behind Gibbs, with ESPN listing Vaki, the 2024 fourth-round pick (No. 132 overall), as RB2 on its unofficial Lions depth chart, while Ourlads lists 2025 undrafted free agent Jacob Saylors as filling Pacheco's spot.
Vaki was a two-way star in college at Utah. As a 2023 junior, 81.1 percent of his snaps came in the defensive backfield, including 320 of 835 total snaps as free safety. Per Pro Football Focus data, he had more special teams (82) than offensive (76) snaps, and Vaki has been a primary special teamer over his first two NFL seasons.
If he's ever going to expand his offensive role in Detroit, Week 1 would be the time to do it. Entering Sunday's season opener, Vaki only has seven career rush attempts, including one in 2025 on his lone offensive snap. Saylors, meanwhile, took a whopping eight snaps on offense by comparison a season ago, gaining 11 yards and one first down on two carries.
Entering Monday, the Lions only had 51 players on their 53-man roster, leaving the possibility for a running back pickup in the days before beginning the 2026 season. But barring any last-minute addition, it'll be on Saylors and Vaki to spell Gibbs and keep him fresh.
Saylors cemented his place on the active roster with a strong preseason, averaging six yards per carry and gaining a team-high 187 rushing yards on 31 carries, per PFF data. Head coach Dan Campbell suggested he could get the first look behind Gibbs against the Saints, recently telling reporters he felt comfortable having him take on the prominent backup role.
"I just like the thought of having a guy in our system, I think that's important," Campbell told reporters in late August. "Knows our terminology, knows our guys, knows the protections. Just kind of knows it all, man." (h/t Detroit Free Press)
Vaki didn't play in the preseason while recovering from facial and back injuries, leaving him needing an impressive showing if called upon Sunday for Campbell to contemplate the depth chart at running back.
Already a core special teams contributor, Vaki could be even more valuable to the Lions by carving out an expanded offensive role. He can start against New Orleans, which presents a potential challenge.
Last season, the Saints ranked No. 6 on defense in yards allowed per rush attempt. Per Sumer Sports data, they stuffed 2.02 runs for every 10-plus-yard carry, the 11th-highest mark in the league.
Losing linebacker Demario Davis, one of the league's top run defenders at his position, to free agency and defensive tackle Bryan Bresee, who tied for 22nd among 68 interior linemen in average run-play tackle depth (two yards), to a season-ending torn ACL could hurt, however, and it will be up to the Lions to exploit those absences.
Gibbs is a clear workhorse, and some signs point to Saylors being the top choice as his replacement when needing a breather.
Vaki may already have an uphill climb to receive many offensive snaps. He'll need to make the most of his opportunities to ensure they aren't his last.
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