Lions RB David Montgomery may return to the field again this season, as his most recent medical examination suggests he could avoid surgery.
In a pretty drastic turn of events, it turns out David Montgomery’s season may not be over. The Detroit Lions running back was initially feared to have suffered an MCL injury that would require season-ending surgery. Even coach Dan Campbell suggested this was the case on Monday.
However, Montgomery sought out the opinion of at least three doctors, and according to Ian Rapoport, there is now belief that he may be able to avoid surgery completely and return to the team during their playoff run.
“After #Lions RB David Montgomery spent the last few days consulting with medical experts, sources are now optimistic that the star avoided the season-ending surgery that was initially feared,” Rapoport tweeted on Thursday. “Montgomery will rehab with the hope that he can return at some point this postseason.”
At this point, we don’t have a timeline on when Montgomery will return. The Lions have not yet placed him on injured reserve, although they may do so during their Saturday weekly transactions. If he is placed on IR, he’ll have to miss the final three games of the regular seasons and one playoff game, at a minimum.
“It is one of these injuries that’s unique because you need to know is it stable, is it fixed or will it scar and then be certainly stable for now and for later,” Campbell said on Wednesday. “And then you have to rely on him, like, ‘Hey man, I’m good. I can do this.’ So, it’s a combination certainly of the doctors’ (opinion), but him as well, where he thinks he can go with it, can he protect himself and play at a high level. So, we’re in a holding pattern, which as of right now, that’s a positive.”
In the meantime, the Lions will rely on their four running backs on the roster: Jahmyr Gibbs, Craig Reynolds, Sione Vaki, and practice squadder Jermar Jefferson.
“They have an unbelievable opportunity today in practice to compete against each other for some of these opportunities,” Lions running backs coach Scottie Montgomery said this week. “There are a little bit more opportunities. Of course we’ll continue to make sure Jahmyr gets a little bit more of the action there, but those three guys will have a good chance to compete today for what’s going to happen on Sunday.”
