Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery left the game against the Indianapolis Colts late in the third quarter after a hard hit and is questionable to return.
Montgomery appeared to sustain the injury during a 14-yard reception, leaving the game shortly afterward. He was later seen heading to the locker room without his shoulder pads, though specific details remain unclear.
Before exiting, Montgomery recorded 37 rushing yards and a touchdown on eight carries, plus three catches for 36 yards.
While a key contributor, Jahmyr Gibbs is the team’s primary running back when healthy, forming a “thunder and lightning” pairing. Gibbs tallied 55 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries, along with two catches for 12 yards.
Selected by the Chicago Bears in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Montgomery became their lead back as a rookie, showcasing toughness and reliability. At Iowa State, he had a standout college career that set the stage for his professional success.
During his first three seasons with the Bears, Montgomery proved to be a steady presence despite the team’s struggles, averaging over 1,000 total yards annually and contributing in both rushing and receiving roles.
In 2023, Montgomery signed with the Lions and, after recovering from an early-season injury, formed a historic backfield duo with rookie Jahmyr Gibbs. They became the first pair in NFL history to each surpass 1,000 scrimmage yards and score 10 touchdowns in the same season.
Montgomery finished the season with 1,015 rushing yards, 13 touchdowns on 219 carries, and 117 receiving yards on 16 catches in 14 games.
He scored in 11 games, including the NFC Championship, where he added 113 scrimmage yards and a touchdown in a narrow loss to the 49ers, 34–31.
In Week 4 of this season, Montgomery tied a Lions franchise record with a rushing touchdown in seven consecutive games. If his shoulder injury impacts his availability, it could significantly hinder the Lions’ offensive performance moving forward.
