Zonovan Knight, a 22-year-old running back, has re-signed with the Detroit Lions before he can enter free agency.
At a position the Lions should feel good about going into the offseason, Knight adds some youthful depth. Last season, David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs proved to be one of the NFL’s top one-two punches. Additionally, there wasn’t much space for touches behind those two, so the Lions may feel secure in passing on this talented free-agent class.
A shoulder injury ended Knight’s first season with the Lions after just two games. Despite ending the year on injured reserve, he nevertheless receives a new contract in advance of next week’s launch of free agency.
In 2022, the running back showed promise in his first season with the New York Jets. In seven games that year, Knight ran 85 times for 300 yards and one touchdown. However, he left New York after the Jets signed Dalvin Cook and welcomed back the gifted Breece Hall from injury at the start of the previous season.
There are still some choices that Brad Holmes and company need to make about the back of their running back rotation. Jason Cabinda, the fullback, and Mohamed Ibrahim are still without contracts. Furthermore, Craig Reynolds is an unrestricted agent.
After signing as an undrafted free agent with the Lions, Ibrahim sustained an injury that would end his season. Cabinda made the successful transition from linebacker to fullback and has been an important member of the special teams unit. It should be intriguing to watch what transpires there because injuries have hindered him in previous seasons.
For the past two seasons, Reynolds has played a rotational role in Detroit. This last season, he wasn’t touched very often. However, the Lions continued to have faith in him during the playoffs, as Reynolds scored a touchdown in the team’s divisional-round victory.
Knight experienced a brief taste of life in the NFL with the Jets as a starting player. The running back position is not even really necessary for the Lions. Nevertheless, considering his age and his actions during that brief appearance in New York, Knight offers some fascinating depth. At North Carolina State, Knight started all three years and amassed 2,286 yards and 18 touchdowns through running, in addition to 337 yards on 48 receptions.
