The Detroit Lions’ offense tends to operate at its peak when both Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery are heavily featured in the run game. A balanced rushing attack has been key to their success — but that balance has recently gone missing.
In two of the past three matchups, Montgomery’s workload has dropped off noticeably, something head coach Dan Campbell appears to be addressing. The veteran running back logged only nine carries in Week 4 and a season-low four attempts in Week 6 against the Kansas City Chiefs — a puzzling decision considering how effective he was early in that game.
While Gibbs struggled to find rhythm against Kansas City, the coaching staff didn’t adjust by feeding Montgomery more, a move that could have steadied the offense.
Speaking on Tuesday, Campbell hinted that he wants offensive coordinator John Morton to put a heavier emphasis on getting Montgomery involved.
“We’d like to see David Montgomery get a larger share of the workload in our rushing attack,” Campbell told reporters, according to The Detroit News’ Nolan Bianchi.
Through the season so far, Gibbs has handled roughly 49.7% of Detroit’s carries, compared to 37.1% for Montgomery. That’s a slight increase in Gibbs’ usage from last year — when he had 46.7% to Montgomery’s 34.6% — though Montgomery’s missed games in 2024 skewed those numbers somewhat.
The Lions’ coaching staff clearly wants to keep Gibbs as a major offensive weapon, but leaning too heavily on him risks losing the bruising, physical style Montgomery brings. His downhill running ability helps tire out defenses and sustain drives — something the Lions have been missing lately.
If Campbell is calling for more touches for Montgomery, it’s safe to assume Morton will soon make that adjustment.
