Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs, who hasn’t been practicing amid a contract hold-in, addressed where things stand for him on Monday.
Gibbs, who is adept at evading tacklers, showed he can do the same with his words as he answered reporters’ questions.
He then said, “Nah, it’s not about that,” when asked about his contract being the reason for the hold-in. When pressed, Gibbs offered an “I don’t know.”
Gibbs has one year left in his $17.84 million rookie deal of four years, so he is due for a new contract. That said, Lions head coach Dave Campbell didn’t address the contract situation head-on.
“I mean, I think it’s good to see,” Campbell told reporters on Monday. “He got a little work inside, and to be able to come out and be around the guys, I think that’s always going to be important.
“Look, he’s still part of us and the guys. Our players love him, we love him,” Campbell said. ”And he’s a part of what we do. So yeah, it’s always good to see him.”
Campbell also acknowledged that Gibbs “had a little bit of a back” injury. That said, it wasn’t at the level to keep him out of training camp.
Gibbs isn’t a player that the Lions can afford to lose. He co-led the league in rushing touchdowns, and he has rushed for 3,580 yards and 39 touchdowns in his career.
A former No. 12 overall pick in 2023, Gibbs became an impact player right away for the Lions, and he made the All-Rookie Team. The Lions will need another strong season out of Gibbs, especially with the departure of star running back David Montgomery.
Now with the Houston Texans, Montgomery paired well with Gibbs, as they boasted one of the most dangerous running back tandems in the league. The Lions will already be hard-pressed to make up for Montgomery’s production.
Detroit added Isiah Pacheco this offseason. He comes from a solid career with the Kansas City Chiefs over four seasons, with 2,537 yards and 14 touchdowns on 576 carries.
He’s also a solid pass-catcher out of the backfield with 88 receptions for 554 yards and three touchdowns. Since Pacheco has neared 1,000 yards twice in his career, the Lions can count on him to be a strong second back.
That said, Pacheco being the lead back could be a problem. He has averaged less than four yards per carry the last two seasons, and most of his main statistical numbers have dwindled since his first two seasons.
Sione Vaki and Jacob Saylors are the other two main backs on the depth chart, and neither has significant experience. Saylors had two carries for 11 yards last season, and Vaki had seven carries for 18 yards.
On the contract front, the Lions will need to pay Gibbs to keep him as the lead back. Gibbs could command $20.2 million annually or a three-year $60.48 million contract.
With Gibbs’s success, he could become one of the highest-paid running backs in the league. His annual salary projection would push him past San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey for the second-highest-paid back annually.
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley makes $20.6 million annually, and McCaffrey makes $19 million. All of the top-10 backs make at least $12 million annually.
The Lions aren’t alone in dealing with a running back hold-in amid contract dramas. Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson also wants a new deal and hasn’t practiced in training camp.
