Tag: Montgomerys

ALLEN PARK — David Montgomery is set to rejoin Jahmyr Gibbs in the backfield at just the right time for the Detroit Lions as they face the Washington Commanders in the divisional round.

Montgomery’s return is the big talking point of the week, and we’ll examine what to expect from that and more in this week’s depth chart projection.

RELATED: The brilliance of Jahmyr Gibbs, and proving the Detroit Lions right

Quarterbacks

1. Jared Goff

2. Hendon Hooker

3. Teddy Bridgewater

Expect another inactive week as the third emergency quarterback for Teddy Bridgewater. He’s here as a strong presence in the locker room and to boost the depth at the game’s most premium position for a hopeful Super Bowl run.

Running backs

1A. Jahmyr Gibbs

1B. David Montgomery

3. Craig Reynolds

4. Sione Vaki

Followers of our depth chart projections will see what I did there. But for those joining us for the first time, Gibbs and Montgomery’s places have swapped at the top. They are the truest and most productive one-two punch in the NFL. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the duo introduced together in Saturday’s starting lineups.

However, Gibbs is on a ridiculous run, with 487 total yards and six touchdowns in the three games Montgomery missed. Montgomery is playing for the first time in a month after dealing with what the team initially thought was a season-ending knee injury. But he’s been back in practice at full capacity all week.

It feels safe to assume Gibbs seeing more touches than usual with the duo both on the field. His performance and Montgomery’s injury make that even safer to assume. Still, Montgomery is a major contributor to this offense, and if he’s active and feeling himself, there is a meaty role for him, too.

Washington’s defense is one of the worst against the run, anyway you look at it. Montgomery and Gibbs are the type of pairing that should give them fits, so expect the Lions to ride their tightly-knit duo.

“It’ll mean a lot,” Lions head coach Dan Campbell said of Montgomery. “No. 5’s a big part of us. He’s a huge part of us, and to me, he’s a bellcow. He’s 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.”

Wide receivers

Starters: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Tim Patrick

Backups: Allen Robinson, Kalif Raymond

The Lions have two 1,000-yard receivers in Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams. St. Brown is a first-team All-Pro for the second straight season. Williams has delivered on his first-round potential this year. They will ride those two receivers, along with Sam LaPorta, Gibbs and Montgomery to power the offense.

Tim Patrick hasn’t seen the ball much lately, with only three targets in three weeks. Allen Robinson drew only two in that span. Kalif Raymond just made his back to the field in Week 18 after a stint on injured reserve. Raymond and Patrick are the top two options behind Williams and St. Brown. But that doesn’t mean Robinson won’t draw a target or two.

Tight ends

1. Sam LaPorta

2. Brock Wright

3. Shane Zylstra

Sam LaPorta found the right time to hit his stride. He’s been targeted at least seven times in five straight games. LaPorta has 29 catches for 335 yards and two touchdowns in that span. Look for him to be a key player for this team in the postseason. LaPorta is hitting all the right notes when they need him most.

Offensive line

Starters: LT Taylor Decker, LG Graham Glasgow, C Frank Ragnow, RG Christian Mahogany, RT Penei Sewell

Backups: OL Dan Skipper, OG Kayode Awosika, OL Michael Niese, OT/OG Colby Sorsdal, OT Giovanni Manu

Out: RG Kevin Zeitler

Christian Mahogany is the planned starter at right guard. Kevin Zeitler will miss his first playoff game with the Lions after suffering a hamstring injury in the season finale. Mahogany filling his spot makes a ton of sense after his showing against the Chicago Bears only a couple of weeks ago.

The sixth-round rookie made the first start of his career in relief of Graham Glasgow at left guard. He looked like a natural, mean run-blocker while allowing only one pressure across 65 snaps. Mahogany has been in front of Kayode Awosika for multiple weeks running. But Awosika is a nice depth piece in case of emergency.

“Yeah, we thought that was a good showing by him, and it’s worthy of — if it goes there — to give him a shot,” Campbell said of Mahogany. “But then there again, we have (Awosika) Yode as well. He’s played snaps, played playoff snaps for us and we trust him as well. So, we feel like we’re in good hands.”

Defensive line

DL Starters: Levi Onwuzurike, Za’Darius Smith, DJ Reader, Josh Paschal

Backups: Al-Quadin Muhammad, Brodric Martin, Myles Adams, Jonah Williams, Mitchell Agude

Out: Pat O’Connor

The big change here is that Pat O’Connor is out for this game. O’Connor had developed a rotational role on the defensive line, playing double-digit snaps in the season’s final five games. His absence opens the door for someone like Jonah Williams, Myles Adams, or potentially Brodric Martin to crack the rotation. Adams and Williams are the likeliest candidates to help fill that void.

Linebackers

1. Jack Campbell (MIKE), Alex Anzalone (WILL)

2. Trevor Nowaske (SAM), Anthony Pittman, Ezekiel Turner, Jalen Reeves-Maybin

Alex Anzalone came off the field for only one defensive snap in his return. He helped shut the Vikings down in the winner-take-all finale, holding T.J. Hockenson to only two catches while playing a ton of man coverage. Anzalone and Jack Campbell will dominate the snaps for most of this game.

Trevor Nowaske remains in the SAM linebacker picture. Jalen Reeves-Maybin has two games back under his belt in his return from injured reserve.

Secondary

Cornerback starters: Terrion Arnold, Amik Robertson, Brian Branch (slot)

Safety starters: Ifeatu Melifonwu, Kerby Joseph

Backups: CB Kindle Vildor, CB Morice Norris

Questionable: Ennis Rakestraw (hamstring/illness)

Terrion Arnold is good to go, entering Saturday without a designation after practicing all week. That was quite the shift from Week 18 when he needed help off the field before being carted to the locker room. Arnold avoided disaster with a foot contusion and seemed to know he was going to be OK from the get.

Expect to see the same situation in the secondary as in previous weeks.

Amik Robertson is on the outside with Arnold. Brian Branch and Ifeatu Melifonwu will boost the versatility in the box, in the slot, at safety and anywhere else needed. First-team All-Pro safety Kerby Joseph will have a key hand in trying to keep Terry McLaurin in front of this defense on Saturday. There isn’t much depth to this room, though, with Ennis Rakestraw questionable and Emmanuel Mosely on the non-football injury list.

Special teams

K — Jake Bates

P — Jack Fox

LS — Hogan Hatten

Kickoffs — Jake Bates

KR — Craig Reynolds

2. — Sione Vaki

PR — Kalif Raymond

2. — Sione Vaki

Kalif Raymond was back in action to end the season, too. He’s a second-team All-Pro punt returner for a reason, and Raymond’s return is a big boost to the special teams and receiver depth.

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