Dan Campbell made a notable — and somewhat familiar — comment about Jahmyr Gibbs during the NFL’s annual league meeting last week.

“We think this guy has the ability to play some receiver,” Campbell explained. “We experimented with a few things last year and he made some real progress, but honestly, we’re only beginning to tap into that part of his game.”

Calling it “only the beginning” is a bold claim considering Gibbs already owns the NFL record for the most touchdowns scored in a player’s first three seasons. The dynamic playmaker has already been the centerpiece of Detroit’s offense, and the suggestion that the team believes there’s still more untapped potential in his skill set could be troubling news for opposing defenses.

As Campbell hinted with his comment about experimenting, Gibbs already showed impressive receiving ability last season. He hauled in a career-best 77 receptions — the third-highest total among running backs in the league — for 616 yards and five touchdowns. Data from SumerBrain also shows that he lined up in the slot 37 times and spent another 28 snaps positioned out wide.

Even so, those numbers didn’t rank among the very highest usage for running backs in those alignments. According to SumerBrain, Gibbs finished seventh among backs in wide alignments and eighth in slot usage.

Because of that, Campbell’s remarks suggest Detroit may still be exploring additional ways to use their explosive weapon as a receiver. However, similar hints have surfaced in the past.

Campbell isn’t the first person within the organization to suggest Gibbs could see a bigger role as a pass catcher.

Before the 2025 season, Gibbs himself indicated he expected to line up outside more frequently.

“I’ve got to learn the formations when I’m split out,” Gibbs said last June. “They’re putting me out there much more than the last couple years, which is exciting. I’ve been waiting for that.”

Former running backs coach and assistant head coach Scottie Montgomery also emphasized improving Gibbs’ receiving impact ahead of the 2024 season.

“What we need from him in the passing game is to take another step forward,” Montgomery said in June 2024.

Even before Gibbs’ rookie year, then-offensive coordinator Ben Johnson hinted the Lions might utilize the young running back in unexpected ways.

Despite all the speculation, there has been little reason to criticize how Detroit has deployed Gibbs so far. He has produced huge numbers and is widely regarded as one of the league’s most electrifying running backs. Still, similar talk in previous years about unconventional usage never truly led to a dramatic shift in how he was deployed.

That could change this time, though, partly due to the departure of his backfield partner David Montgomery. The pair had earned the nickname “Sonic and Knuckles,” but Montgomery was traded to Houston earlier this offseason after requesting a move.

Montgomery was typically the stronger pass blocker, which often kept him on the field during obvious passing situations. Now, Gibbs appears firmly positioned as Detroit’s primary running back — if he wasn’t already — which could lead to an even larger workload this season.

For that to happen consistently, Gibbs will likely need to continue improving his pass protection. Detroit does have other options, including free-agent addition Isiah Pacheco and 2024 fourth-round pick Sione Vaki, though Vaki remains something of an unknown.

Because of that, one possible way to keep Gibbs heavily involved while minimizing pass-blocking responsibilities could be occasionally lining him up at receiver. Detroit already boasts an impressive receiving group featuring Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and rising talent Isaac TeSlaa.

Still, using Gibbs in the slot or out wide on certain plays could create difficult matchup problems for defenses, especially if new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing designs creative ways to feature him. With his rare combination of speed and versatility, Gibbs could evolve into an even more unique weapon in 2026.

Campbell certainly believes there is still another level to reach.

“Gibbs is going to explode,” Campbell said. “He’s already an excellent runner who can operate in any scheme — inside, outside, wherever you need him. But he can also be dangerous as a receiver out of the backfield, and we’re not even close to maximizing that yet.”