The Detroit Lions made significant investments in their backfield last year by signing free agent David Montgomery and selecting Jahmyr Gibbs in the first round of the draft. With another draft pick used this year to enhance their running game, veteran back Craig Reynolds might be cut. Mike Payton of AtoZ Sports predicted that Reynolds, now in his third year, would not make the final 53-man roster.
Payton expects Gibbs and Montgomery to be the starters, with former New York Jets running back Zonovan Knight and rookie Sione Vaki as backups. He noted that Reynolds could miss out on a spot.
“Vaki will be a fun addition to an already exciting backfield,” Payton wrote in a pre-training camp roster prediction. “I’ve debated between Reynolds and Knight for the fourth spot. Knight’s potential is hard to overlook.”
Knight had a notable rookie season with the Jets in 2022, rushing for 300 yards and 1 touchdown, and catching 13 passes for 100 yards. After joining the Lions last season, he appeared in just two games, with three rushes for 13 yards and one catch for 8 yards.
Reynolds could leverage his versatility and special teams contributions if he finds himself on the roster bubble. Last year, he played a career-high 211 snaps on special teams and rushed 41 times for 179 yards with 1 touchdown.
Team reporter Tim Twentyman highlighted Reynolds’ significant contributions beyond running, such as his key block that led to a touchdown for Amon-Ra St. Brown in Tampa Bay last season.
Reynolds might also benefit from the Lions tendering him as an exclusive rights free agent, which Erik Schlitt of SB Nation’s Pride of Detroit noted could increase his chances of making the roster. Schlitt explained that this tender almost guarantees Reynolds’ return, as his only alternative would be not playing in the NFL this season.
The Lions might also find a substantial role for Vaki, a fourth-round pick who switched from safety to running back in his final college year at Utah. Twentyman wrote that Vaki looked “dominant” during rookie minicamp in May, and the team is optimistic about his potential.