Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery suffered an injury in the club’s Week 12 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. Here’s the latest after Sunday’s game.
What Happened to David Montgomery?
Montgomery limped to the Lions’ locker room near the end of the third quarter in Week 12. He did not have his helmet and was not wearing shoulder pads.
Detroit announced he was dealing with a shoulder issue.
His last offensive touch came with 4:37 remaining in the third quarter when he hauled in a 14-yard pass from Jared Goff. Montgomery could’ve been injured on the play:
An angry 14 yards for Knuckles @montgomerdavid 😡#DETvsIND | 📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/qofSZMEtLw
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) November 24, 2024
Fellow Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs handled the rest of the club’s backfield touches on the drive, including a five-yard rushing touchdown.
Montgomery entered Sunday’s game with 595 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. He’d posted eight carries for 37 yards and another score before leaving Week 12.
Did Montgomery Play in Week 13?
The Lions announced that Montgomery was questionable to return on Sunday due to his shoulder injury.
Montgomery never re-entered the game, but the score and game situation had as much to do with that as anything. Detroit held a 15-point lead over Indy at the start of the fourth quarter.
Montgomery told reporters after Sunday’s win that he expects to play against the Chicago Bears on Thursday.
#Lions’ David Montgomery says he will be ready to go on Thursday. Said it was a smart decision to rest him after the injury today.
— Eric Woodyard (@E_Woodyard) November 24, 2024
Meanwhile, Lions head coach Dan Campbell said he feels “OK” about Montgomery, left tackle Taylor Decker, and cornerback Carlton Davis, all of whom suffered injuries in Week 12.
Detroit’s all-around optimism on Montgomery’s Week 13 availability is clearly a good sign heading into Thanksgiving. Still, we’ll need to monitor Montgomery’s practice participation leading up to that game.
Fantasy Impact of Montgomery’s Injury
Gibbs has been one of fantasy football‘s most productive backs this season, and that comes with Montgomery chewing up nearly 16 touches per game. The second-year RB wouldn’t absorb all of that, but any uptick in usage would elevate Gibbs into the top tier of running back — if he isn’t there already.
Montgomery has scored in nine of 11 games this season, and his absence would lay some scoring equity at the feet of this passing game. Could Sam LaPorta peak at the perfect time for managers? Maybe Jameson Williams?
You’re playing most of your Lions with or without Montgomery active, but all of those pieces would get a little boost in projection should he miss time.
— PFN Analyst Kyle Soppe