In the Detroit Lions’ 34–27 overtime victory against the New York Giants, the backfield was supposed to feature a balanced duo. Instead, it turned into a showcase for only one runner — and it wasn’t David Montgomery. Jahmyr Gibbs delivered the most dominant outing of his young career at Ford Field, while Montgomery was largely invisible and made little impact.
Gibbs exploded for 219 rushing yards, two scores on the ground, 45 receiving yards, and a touchdown catch in the Week 12 win. Montgomery, meanwhile, mustered just 18 yards on five rushing attempts and 19 receiving yards on three catches, continuing a concerning stretch of quiet performances that has frustrated fans.
Head coach Dan Campbell didn’t hide his admiration for Gibbs afterward, praising both the rookie’s explosiveness and the offensive line’s performance. But his trust in Montgomery clearly wasn’t at the same level — and the snap distribution reflected that. Detroit didn’t lean on a two-back rotation, because Gibbs took over the workload with ease. Over the last two games, he has handled 27 carries, while Montgomery has managed only 11.
Detroit Proving It Can Thrive Without Montgomery
Earlier in the season, many pointed fingers at offensive coordinator John Morton, suggesting his play-calling was stalling the offense in his first year with the Lions. But with Campbell now directing the offense more heavily, the issues increasingly point toward Montgomery rather than scheme.
Montgomery, who joined Detroit in 2023 alongside Gibbs, looked like a strong addition during his first season, surpassing 1,000 rushing yards. Since then, though, his production has steadily dipped, and he no longer appears to be the ideal fit he once was. With the Lions putting up 34 points without giving him a meaningful workload, it’s fair to ask why they would alter a formula that’s working.
If Detroit continues to struggle with consistency and bows out early in the postseason again, change will be unavoidable — and Montgomery could be one of the first pieces moved. He still has two years remaining on his contract, but Spotrac data shows Detroit could move on with a post–June 1 trade or release, saving $6 million while absorbing manageable dead-cap hits of $2.3 million in 2026 and $2.4 million in 2027.
At this point, Gibbs is emerging as the clear RB1, and Montgomery’s production hasn’t exceeded that of a replacement-level back. Nothing is guaranteed, but if the current trajectory continues, the possibility of Montgomery playing his way out of Detroit grows stronger by the week.
