Running back Jahmyr Gibbs plans to start his second NFL season in time for the Detroit Lions to open their 2024 campaign against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night.
Gibbs suffered a hamstring injury during training camp on Aug. 12, and the former Alabama running back only returned to practice last week.
On Monday, Detroit coach Dan Campbell said defensive end Ifetu Melifonwu was the only player the Lions have had injury issues with early in the season. “I feel good,” Gibbs said Tuesday. “…I mean, when I came back, you know, I had to get back in shape for football. The first day was tough, I won’t lie. But other than that, it was good. » Gibbs made the Pro Bowl as a rookie after totaling 945 yards and 10 touchdowns on 182 carries and caught 52 passes for 316 yards and a touchdown in 15 regular season games.
After this performance on the PFWA All-Rookie team, Gibbs became the eighth rookie in NFL history with at least 144 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns in the postseason. And he’s the only one in that group to have 11 or more saves as well.
In 2024, Gibbs said he expected “a faster game without thinking, so just reactionary”.
“I feel confident in the offense going into year two,” Gibbs said. “Knowing more about the offense and having more confidence helps the performance in general and I feel good.”
Detroit split backfield duties between Gibbs and David Montgomery in 2023. Montgomery rushed for 1,015 yards and 13 touchdowns on 219 carries and caught 16 passes for 117 yards in 14 regular season games.
The pair will return for the 2024 season.
“We rely a lot on the run game, so I think a lot revolves around us and what we do consistently,” Gibbs said, “so it’s about being consistent every week and doing a good job every week following our suggestions and knowing what to do. I think it just has to be.” Last year, the Lions managed to select Gibbs 12th overall and not only found themselves in the playoffs for the first time 2016, but also in the NFC Final for the first time seen since 1991. As a result, expectations for Detroit in 2024 are higher than they have been in decades.
“We’re not exaggerating,” Gibbs said. “We’re taking it one game at a time. I mean, we know what we have to do, what we’re capable of. Detroit opened the playoffs last season by beating the Rams 24-23 on January 14.” The Lions and Los Angeles meet at 7:20 PM Central on Sunday at Ford Field in Detroit. NBC will televise the game.
“Last year this game was pretty crazy,” Gibbs said, “so I’m pretty sure it’s going to be the same, maybe more, so I’m excited.”