Surprise David Montgomery Injury Update Offers Glimmer of Hope for Lions in Playoffs

The Lions are stuck in a difficult situation with just a few games left in the regular season, though new comments from star RB David Montgomery should offer fans a glimmer of hope.

Montgomery spoke to the media on Tuesday, saying he hopes he can return to the field for the stretch run. He wasn't placed on Injured Reserve, which would've caused him to miss at least four games.

Head coach Dan Campbell initially said that Montgomery would miss the season, though there's now optimism that assessment may have been wrong.

David Montgomery Offers Lions Fans Hope With Injury Comments

In his second year with the team, Montgomery has paired with Jahmyr Gibbs to form the NFL's best one-two backfield duo. He has 185 carries for 775 yards and 12 TDs this season, giving him 25 total rushing scores with Detroit.

The Lions are still in good shape even if he does miss the year thanks to Gibbs' presence. They have other options should the team's brass want to explore, but the defensive injuries are a larger concern in the postseason. Detroit is favored to win the NFC yet it's hard to argue the margins haven't gotten slimmer.

Philadelphia is surging while Green Bay, Tampa Bay, and Los Angeles look like real threats. Getting Montgomery back in the playoffs isn't necessarily required but would sure help matters.

"I hope so" doesn't inspire that much optimism. Even still, it's a step in the right direction considering previous reports. Montgomery still could ultimately wind up on Injured Reserve. Hopefully, he's able to return.

If Detroit wins its final three games against Chicago, San Francisco, and Minnesota, they're guaranteed to hold onto the No. 1 seed. Should they stumble again, they'll need some help. Getting that first-round bye is massively important with this many injuries, especially since there's still optimism Aidan Hutchinson could return as well.

After giving up 48 points in a loss to Buffalo, the coaching staff's focus should be on fixing the defense. If they can't find solutions, scoring as many points as possible is the only way to make a deep playoff run.

Montgomery could be part of that juggernaut offense, though it depends on the coming days. Not all hope is lost and fans' fingers are crossed hoping the halfback's year isn't over.

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