Head coach Dan Campbell said Wednesday that Montgomery (knee) is seeking a third opinion on his MCL injury, which is why the team has not yet placed him on injured reserve, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports. Campbell has already said Montgomery is expected to undergo season-ending surgery to address the MCL sprain in his right knee, but with Detroit gearing up to hopefully make a deep playoff push, the standout running back is leaving the door open for an alternative treatment plan. The expectation remains, though, that Montgomery will be shut down for the remainder of the 2024 campaign, leaving Jahmyr Gibbs atop the backfield, with Craig Reynolds and rookie Sione Vaki handling expanded depth roles.
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Status
OUT - Knee - MCL - Surgery Expected Return: 2025-02-10Previous game (vs. BUF 12/15)
Latest David Montgomery news
2024 Season Rushing
2024 Season Receiving
David Montgomery Career Stats
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Career Stats - Rushing
CARYDSAVGTDLNGFDFUM131953994.1518020510Career Stats - Receiving
RECTGTSYDSAVGTDLNGYAC20725616988.2440116Rushing
Receiving
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Career Stats - Rushing
CARYDSAVGTDLNGFDFUM512144.2216110Career Stats - Receiving
RECTGTSYDSAVGTDLNGYAC68457.501415Rushing
Receiving
David Montgomery
Season Stats
Previous Game (vs. BUF 12/15)
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Rushing
CARYDSAVGTDLNGFDFUM1857754.21221502Receiving
RECTGTSYDSAVGTDLNGYAC36383419.504024.4
David Montgomery
Game Log
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Regular SeasonrushingreceivingDateOppResultCARYDSAVGTDLNGFDRECTGTSYDSAVGTDSLNGYAC12/15L 42-48540.803044317.80144112/5W 34-3114513.6113355336.60133611/28W 23-2021884.201343336120194511/24W 24-68374.611323336120163511/17W 52-615755211733206.7091711/10W 26-2312322.711231224240242811/3W 24-1417734.3012633237.70142610/27W 52-149333.7192115505110/20W 31-299313.40803439130193710/13W 47-912806.7219511000039/30W 42-2912403.31133114040040399/22W 20-13231054.6116733175.709249/15L 16-2011353.219244358.8015339/8W 26-2017915.412161122020
Regular Season Totals 1857754122150363834110.8040365
David Montgomery Player Profile
Career History
David Montgomery Latest News
Seeking third opinion on injury
Head coach Dan Campbell said Wednesday that Montgomery (knee) is seeking a third opinion on his MCL injury, which is why the team has not yet placed him on injured reserve, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports. Campbell has already said Montgomery is expected to undergo season-ending surgery to address the MCL sprain in his right knee, but with Detroit gearing up to hopefully make a deep playoff push, the standout running back is leaving the door open for an alternative treatment plan. The expectation remains, though, that Montgomery will be shut down for the remainder of the 2024 campaign, leaving Jahmyr Gibbs atop the backfield, with Craig Reynolds and rookie Sione Vaki handling expanded depth roles.
Confirmed done for season
Coach Dan Campbell said Monday that Montgomery will undergo season-ending knee surgery and miss the remainder of the 2024 campaign, Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com reports. "We're gonna miss him, man," Campbell added. Montgomery is reportedly dealing with an MCL injury, which he suffered in Sunday's Week 15 loss to the Bills. However, he continued to play through it, so it came as a shock Monday when the nature of the issue was revealed to the public. It's yet another crushing blow to Detroit's injury-riddled roster. Montgomery's loss sets up Jahmyr Gibbs to be a workhorse back the rest of the way. Behind Gibbs on the depth chart are special teams ace Craig Reynolds and rookie Sione Vaki. Jermar Jefferson is additional depth on the practice squad. Montgomery's season finishes with 185 carries for 775 yards (4.2 YPC) and 12 touchdowns. He added 36 catches for 341 yards on 38 targets in the pass game. Montgomery will likely be placed on injured reserve in the coming days.
Suffers potentially serious injury
Montgomery (knee) sustained an MCL injury in his knee during Sunday's 48-42 loss to the Bills, the severity of which could be season-ending, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. Montgomery is undergoing additional tests on his knee Monday and will be seek a second opinion on whatever initial results he receives, but Schefter reports that at this time the standout running back is considered out indefinitely. The Lions have yet to make an official announcement regarding Montgomery's status, but the severity of his knee injury may ultimately rule him out for the remainder of the regular season, and thus the fantasy playoffs, if not the entire 2024 campaign. Montgomery's injury is the latest in a series of brutal blows for Detroit's roster, especially as the team works to mount an impactful playoff run. The lone bright spot for the Lions is that Jahmyr Gibbs remains a backfield option capable of thriving in a lead role. Beginning Sunday versus Chicago, though, it may fall to Craig Reynolds and Sione Vaki to complement Gibbs in Montgomery's place.
Limited by game script
Montgomery rushed the ball five times for four yards in Sunday's 48-42 loss to the Bills. He added four receptions on four targets for 31 yards. The Lions fell behind quickly in the contest and attempted only 15 rushes as a result. That left Montgomery largely uninvolved, though he did top 30 receiving yards for the fourth straight game. A Week 16 matchup against the Bears should allow a more balanced offensive game plan for the Lions, with Montgomery returning to a more typical level of involvement.
Another TD in division win
Montgomery rushed 14 times for 51 yards and a touchdown and brought in all five targets for 33 yards in the Lions' 34-31 win over the Packers on Thursday night. Montgomery capped off the opening possession of the game with a three-yard walk-in rushing touchdown, his fifth in the last five games. The veteran back generally found running room at a premium, but he set a new season high in receptions and targets. Montgomery has consistently complemented his work on the ground with solid production through the air of late, as he'll head into a Week 15 home showdown against the Bills on Sunday, Dec. 15 with a 14-143 line on 14 targets in the last four contests.
Surpasses 100 total yards Thursday
Montgomery (shoulder) rushed 21 times for 88 yards while catching all three of his targets for 36 yards in Thursday's 23-20 win over the Bears. Montgomery showed no ill effects from the shoulder injury that prompted him to exit in the third quarter of Detroit's 24-6 Week 12 win over the Colts. His 21 carries easily surpassed his season average of 13.2 rushing attempts heading into this game, and he topped Jahmyr Gibbs by one rushing yard for the team lead. After being held without a rushing touchdown Thursday for only the third time this season, Montgomery will look to get back into the end zone Week 14 against the Packers on Thursday Night Football.
Active on Thanksgiving
Montgomery (shoulder) is active for Thursday's game against the Bears. Montgomery exited this past Sunday's 24-6 win at Indianapolis late in the third quarter due to a shoulder injury and didn't return. Afterward, he told Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com that he believed the Lions made the right decision to rest him down the stretch and also that he intended to play Thursday. Detroit held walkthroughs during the entirety of Week 13 prep, and Montgomery followed a DNP/LP/FP practice regimen. It was enough for the sixth-year pro to be available, and he likely will retain his normal role in the backfield working in tandem with Jahmyr Gibbs, which has amounted to 169 touches for 873 yards from scrimmage and 11 rushing TDs for Montgomery in 11 appearances this season.
Listed as questionable
Montgomery (shoulder) is listed as questionable for Thursday's game against the Bears. Montgomery missed the fourth quarter of Sunday's win over the Colts but said afterward he would be ready by Thursday. It's not entirely clear his optimistic assessment was accurate, but the fact that the Lions listed him as a full practice participant Wednesday is a positive sign. However, the Lions held only walk-through practices on a short week, which means Montgomery didn't really get to test his injured ankle in drills against teammates. Fantasy managers will want to check back for the final call on Montgomery's active status 90 minutes before the 12:30 p.m. ET kickoff Thursday.
Limited in Tuesday's walk-through
The Lions listed Montgomery (shoulder) as a limited participant in Tuesday's walk-through practice. After leaving early in Sunday's 24-6 win over the Colts with the shoulder issue, Montgomery's status is one to watch with the Lions facing a quick turnaround for Week 13 with a Thursday game against the Bears. The Lions aren't likely to hold any high-intensity practices during the short week, but Montgomery's improvement in being estimated as a non-participant Monday to a limited participant Tuesday is generally a positive sign. Head coach Dan Campbell told Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press earlier Tuesday that he feels good about Montgomery's chances of playing in the Thanksgiving Day game, but it won't be known whether the running back carries a designation into that contest until after the Lions release their final injury report Wednesday.