Montgomery plans to avoid surgery to address the MCL sprain in his right knee and will rehab the injury with the goal of returning for the divisional round of the playoffs, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. After Montgomery emerged from this past Sunday's 48-42 loss to the Bills with the knee injury, head coach Dan Campbell said Monday that the running back would require season-ending surgery. However, after Montgomery received three "high-level medical opinions" on his injury, per Rapoport, the consensus was that the 27-year-old would be able to avoid a procedure on the knee. Montgomery will still miss Detroit's final three games of the regular season and would also remain likely to miss the wild-card round, though that may be a moot point if the 12-2 Lions are able to secure a first-round bye in the playoffs. For whatever length of time Montgomery misses, Jahmyr Gibbs is poised to see as heightened role as Detroit's clear lead back, while Craig Reynolds and Sione Vaki could see more opportunities as backups to Gibbs.
Unlock the latest Detroit Lions news — direct to your inbox.
Status
OUT - Knee - MCL - Sprain Expected Return: 2025-01-20Latest David Montgomery news
Career History
Montgomery plans to avoid surgery to address the MCL sprain in his right knee and will rehab the injury with the goal of returning for the divisional round of the playoffs, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. After Montgomery emerged from this past Sunday's 48-42 loss to the Bills with the knee injury, head coach Dan Campbell said Monday that the running back would require season-ending surgery. However, after Montgomery received three "high-level medical opinions" on his injury, per Rapoport, the consensus was that the 27-year-old would be able to avoid a procedure on the knee. Montgomery will still miss Detroit's final three games of the regular season and would also remain likely to miss the wild-card round, though that may be a moot point if the 12-2 Lions are able to secure a first-round bye in the playoffs. For whatever length of time Montgomery misses, Jahmyr Gibbs is poised to see as heightened role as Detroit's clear lead back, while Craig Reynolds and Sione Vaki could see more opportunities as backups to Gibbs.
Lions coach Dan Campbell said Friday that the team hasn't made a decision about placing Montgomery (knee) on injured reserve, Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com reports. Montgomery spent much of this week visiting medical experts and now believes he can return from his MCL injury before the end of the campaign without undergoing surgery. Placing him on injured reserve before Sunday's game against the Bears not only would rule Montgomery out for the rest of the regular season but also for Detroit's first game of the playoffs. Given that reality, he may be kept on the roster even if there's no chance he plays again through Week 18. The Lions won't have a playoff game until Jan. 18 or 19 if they earn the No. 1 seed in the NFC, giving Montgomery five weeks from the date of his initial injury to recover.
Montgomery (knee) is now optimistic he'll avoid surgery and hopes to return during the playoffs, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Previously expected to undergo season-ending surgery for an MCL tear, Montgomery apparently got promising feedback from medical experts and now hopes he can recover with rest. The report suggests he'll still miss the rest of the regular season but may return at some point in January for a Detroit team that's currently battling for the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
Head coach Dan Campbell said Wednesday that Montgomery (knee) is seeking a third opinion on his MCL injury, which is why the team has not yet placed him on injured reserve, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports. Campbell has already said Montgomery is expected to undergo season-ending surgery to address the MCL sprain in his right knee, but with Detroit gearing up to hopefully make a deep playoff push, the standout running back is leaving the door open for an alternative treatment plan. The expectation remains, though, that Montgomery will be shut down for the remainder of the 2024 campaign, leaving Jahmyr Gibbs atop the backfield, with Craig Reynolds and rookie Sione Vaki handling expanded depth roles.
Coach Dan Campbell said Monday that Montgomery will undergo season-ending knee surgery and miss the remainder of the 2024 campaign, Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com reports. "We're gonna miss him, man," Campbell added. Montgomery is reportedly dealing with an MCL injury, which he suffered in Sunday's Week 15 loss to the Bills. However, he continued to play through it, so it came as a shock Monday when the nature of the issue was revealed to the public. It's yet another crushing blow to Detroit's injury-riddled roster. Montgomery's loss sets up Jahmyr Gibbs to be a workhorse back the rest of the way. Behind Gibbs on the depth chart are special teams ace Craig Reynolds and rookie Sione Vaki. Jermar Jefferson is additional depth on the practice squad. Montgomery's season finishes with 185 carries for 775 yards (4.2 YPC) and 12 touchdowns. He added 36 catches for 341 yards on 38 targets in the pass game. Montgomery will likely be placed on injured reserve in the coming days.
Montgomery (knee) sustained an MCL injury in his knee during Sunday's 48-42 loss to the Bills, the severity of which could be season-ending, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. Montgomery is undergoing additional tests on his knee Monday and will be seek a second opinion on whatever initial results he receives, but Schefter reports that at this time the standout running back is considered out indefinitely. The Lions have yet to make an official announcement regarding Montgomery's status, but the severity of his knee injury may ultimately rule him out for the remainder of the regular season, and thus the fantasy playoffs, if not the entire 2024 campaign. Montgomery's injury is the latest in a series of brutal blows for Detroit's roster, especially as the team works to mount an impactful playoff run. The lone bright spot for the Lions is that Jahmyr Gibbs remains a backfield option capable of thriving in a lead role. Beginning Sunday versus Chicago, though, it may fall to Craig Reynolds and Sione Vaki to complement Gibbs in Montgomery's place.
Montgomery rushed the ball five times for four yards in Sunday's 48-42 loss to the Bills. He added four receptions on four targets for 31 yards. The Lions fell behind quickly in the contest and attempted only 15 rushes as a result. That left Montgomery largely uninvolved, though he did top 30 receiving yards for the fourth straight game. A Week 16 matchup against the Bears should allow a more balanced offensive game plan for the Lions, with Montgomery returning to a more typical level of involvement.
Montgomery rushed 14 times for 51 yards and a touchdown and brought in all five targets for 33 yards in the Lions' 34-31 win over the Packers on Thursday night. Montgomery capped off the opening possession of the game with a three-yard walk-in rushing touchdown, his fifth in the last five games. The veteran back generally found running room at a premium, but he set a new season high in receptions and targets. Montgomery has consistently complemented his work on the ground with solid production through the air of late, as he'll head into a Week 15 home showdown against the Bills on Sunday, Dec. 15 with a 14-143 line on 14 targets in the last four contests.
Montgomery (shoulder) rushed 21 times for 88 yards while catching all three of his targets for 36 yards in Thursday's 23-20 win over the Bears. Montgomery showed no ill effects from the shoulder injury that prompted him to exit in the third quarter of Detroit's 24-6 Week 12 win over the Colts. His 21 carries easily surpassed his season average of 13.2 rushing attempts heading into this game, and he topped Jahmyr Gibbs by one rushing yard for the team lead. After being held without a rushing touchdown Thursday for only the third time this season, Montgomery will look to get back into the end zone Week 14 against the Packers on Thursday Night Football.