Lions RB Out for Majority of Season After Back Surgery
The Detroit Lions will be without a key running back until at least December after he underwent surgery for a back injury.
Jahmyr Gibbs, the Detroit Lions running back, missed a significant portion of the season after undergoing back surgery. In a 31-30 overtime victory over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, Gibbs managed to carry the ball 29 times for 156 yards and two touchdowns, along with five receptions for 30 yards. Sione Vaki was the only other Lions running back to record a rush, carrying the ball twice for seven yards.
Isiah Pacheco, the team's second-leading running back, underwent surgery to alleviate pressure on his nerve in his back, leaving the Lions to rely more heavily on Gibbs. It is anticipated that Pacheco will be sidelined until at least December, as reported by NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Pacheco's injury stemmed from an initial MCL sprain followed by a back injury sustained during training.
Dr. Robert Watkins IV executed the procedure. Pacheco was placed on injured reserve before the season due to these combined injuries. Upon Pacheco's absence, Lions general manager Brad Holmes expressed optimism about Pacheco's potential return this season. The roster also includes Jacob Saylors as a running back, but it remains uncertain whether the Lions intend to allocate more carries to Vaki or Saylors to minimize the workload on Gibbs, who recently signed a three-year, $67.5 million deal with Detroit during the pre-season.
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