Lions’ David Montgomery confident after ‘strenuous’ knee rehab

ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery was a full participant in Tuesday’s walk-through practice at the Meijer Performance Center.

As the top-seeded Lions prepare to host the Washington Commanders on Saturday night at Ford Field, Montgomery said he is excited to return for the divisional round after missing Detroit’s final three regular-season games with a right MCL injury.

“It’s refreshing,” Montgomery said. “Kind of to be back in the position to where I can help the team, yeah, I missed it, so happy to be back.”

Montgomery was also a key contributor for the Lions in last year’s playoff run to the NFC Championship Game, rushing for 183 yards in three games, the most in one postseason in franchise history.

Montgomery says he is confident in the knee and “wouldn’t be out there if I wasn’t ready.” His rigorous rehabilitation routine included physically strengthening the MCL, which he described as “pretty strenuous” but also necessary to reach his goal of returning within this time frame.

After suffering the knee injury during a Week 15 loss to Buffalo, Montgomery received three medical opinions before choosing rehab over surgery with the optimistic outcome of a playoff return. He said he is happy with the decision.

“I think the speculation that I was getting surgery or that was kind of the end-all, be-all. Nobody really ever knew,” Montgomery said. “So when it got put out, I didn’t know that I was getting surgery. So the media told me, so it was news to me, but I’m always pretty confident in who I am and how I prepare.”

Montgomery ran for 775 yards and 12 touchdowns this season, making him the Lions’ second-leading rusher behind Pro Bowler Jahmyr Gibbs, who had 1,412 rushing yards and a league-high 20 total touchdowns.

Lions coach Dan Campbell has also welcomed Montgomery back with open arms and believes he will contribute immediately.

“It’ll mean a lot,” Campbell said. “Five’s a big part of us. He’s a huge part of us, and to me, he’s a bell cow. He’s somebody that is a tone-setter. He’s a catalyst, so there’s a place for him. There’s a place for him here, so there’ll be a place for him in this game. So it’s going to be good to get him back.”

Montgomery has thrived in getting tough yardage for the Lions as part of a dangerous running back tandem with Gibbs. Since joining the Lions in 2023, he averages 2.0 yards after first contact, which is fifth most in the league with a minimum of 300 rushes, according to ESPN Research.

He said he visualizes the Lions reaching their first Super Bowl with him on the field as a key contributor.

“I would have dreams about us going to the Super Bowl,” Montgomery said. “It’s crazy. And the closer we get, the more vivid they become. I have them like often. But I don’t know how it’s going to look with us getting there, but I know we’re going to be there.”