Letting David Montgomery go was a questionable but somewhat understandable decision. He wasn't happy with his diminished role, and the Detroit Lions seemed poised to unleash Jahmyr Gibbs as the undisputed workhorse running back.
However, running him into the ground probably wasn't a part of the plans. But with Isiah Pacheco dealing with multiple injuries and no one else to step up in his absence, the Lions are now playing a dangerous game with their star running back.
It's only been two games, and it will be at least another month before the Lions get their offseason addition on the field. With all the risk that poses to their superstar running back, they may certainly want a do-over here.
Lions will pay the price for their Isiah Pacheco mistake
Isiah Pacheco scored a single touchdown and averaged 3.9 yards per carry last season. Notably, that was after he averaged 3.7 yards per tote and missed 10 games in the previous campaign. Naturally, that led the Lions to reward him with a one-year, $1.8 million contract because why not?
He had a first couple of seasons before his aggressive running style got the best of him. He's been banged up in recent campaigns, and his lack of vision has him crashing into defenders. His physicality was, as predicted, unsustainable, and he doesn't have the patience to make up for that.
Lions fans wouldn't know that, of course, since they haven't even gotten a chance to watch him. He barely did anything in training camp and has been out for a while, leaving the ever-struggling Sione Vaki as Gibbs' primary backup.
So, where has that led the Lions? Gibbs had a staggering 29 carries and five receptions in Week 1, followed by 16 rushes and six grabs in Week 2. We're talking about an average of 22.5 carries per game. That's simply dangerous.
Of course, Gibbs will always find ways to make an impact. He's the shiftiest ball-carrier in the game, and his ability to find gaps and create space for himself with his spin moves is second to none. But is it even worth wearing him down like this?
As happy as his fantasy football managers might be right now, one can only wonder how long this team can keep this up. That's what Pacheco was supposed to be there for, and the Lions might have to go half the regular season without Gibbs' sidekick.
Part of what made Gibbs so special and dangerous was that his fellow RB would be there to take a beating and wear out the defense. His acceleration, crafty moves, and change of pace would then take care of the rest.
But now that he's been asked to do this much and the Lions don't seem to trust any of their backups, one can only wonder whether that money and roster spot could've been put to a better use.
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