Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) runs for yards before being tackled Detroit during the game against the Buffalo Bills at Ford Field in Detroit Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. Montgomery suffered an MCL injury to his right knee in the 48-42 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

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David Montgomery Injury Update: Lions RB out for season, set to undergo knee surgery

David Montgomery out for season with torn MCL injury.

The Detroit Lions just can’t catch a break.

On Monday, head coach Dan Campbell confirmed that running back David Montgomery is out for the season. He tore his MCL during Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills and will need surgery.

Campbell didn’t hold back when talking about Montgomery’s loss:

“We’re going to miss him, man. He’s another one of these guys that got us to this position — helped get us to where we’re at. And the rest of us, we owe him to keep going and make sure that wasn’t in vain.”

#Lions RB David Montgomery suffered a torn MCL in the team’s loss to the #Bills and could be out for the season, including the playoffs, sources say. He’s having more tests to figure out the severity and next steps.

Montgomery somehow finished the game. pic.twitter.com/ZljyJQVNsU
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 16, 2024

Montgomery went down in the second quarter, came back after halftime, and then left for good. Jahmyr Gibbs handled the rest of the workload. Montgomery wasn’t effective on the ground, just 4 yards on five carries, but his four catches for 31 yards helped keep the offense moving for a bit.

Still, losing him is a gut punch.

The Lions’ backfield duo takes a hit

Montgomery and Gibbs have been a two-headed machine for Detroit. Between them:

Gibbs: 186 carries, 1,047 yards, 11 TDs
Montgomery: 185 carries, 775 yards, 12 TDs

Lions notable defensive injuries this season:

🏈DE Aidan Hutchinson
🏈DT Alim McNeill
🏈DL Marcus Davenport
🏈DL John Cominsky
🏈LB Alex Anzalone
🏈LB Malcolm Rodriguez
🏈LB Derrick Barnes
🏈LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin
🏈CB Carlton Davis
🏈CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr.
🏈CB Emmanuel…
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 16, 2024

The split kept both players fresh, and it worked. Detroit’s offense thrived because of their balance — Gibbs’ explosiveness, and Montgomery’s toughness. Now, it’s all on Gibbs. Craig Reynolds will step up as the backup, but let’s be honest, he’s not Montgomery.

Injuries are stacking up for Detroit

This isn’t just about David Montgomery. The Lions’ injury list looks like something out of a nightmare.

Alim McNeill: Torn ACL. Season over.
Carlton Davis II: Fractured jaw. Out indefinitely (minimum six weeks).
Khalil Dorsey: Ankle injury. Carted off after colliding with teammate Ezekiel Turner.

That’s before you even factor in the other names already on IR. Aidan Hutchinson. Alex Anzalone. Emmanuel Moseley. Marcus Davenport. Malcolm Rodriguez. The list goes on.

What happens next?

Replacing Montgomery won’t be easy. Craig Reynolds will get his shot, but if Detroit wants to add depth, Clyde Edwards-Helaire is an option. The Chiefs just let him go.

Chiefs have released former first-round RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire pic.twitter.com/aTu4DwSSGg
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 16, 2024

Edwards-Helaire has solid numbers across five seasons — 1,845 rushing yards and 12 TDs — but he hasn’t been productive lately. He saw a 22% snap share last season and started 2024 on the NFI list. He’s shifty, though, and pairing him with Gibbs could give Detroit a decent stopgap.

Still, it’s not Montgomery.

Campbell remains focused amid adversity

The Lions have endured one of the most injury-plagued seasons in franchise history. Despite the setbacks, Campbell remains committed to pushing forward.

“David’s tough, man. He continued to play through and got it checked out today and realized that’s what it was,” Campbell said. “We owe him to keep fighting.”

Image: Imagn

David Montgomery

David Montgomery Injury

David Montgomery Injury Update

Natasha Bose

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