Sometimes you're just so incredibly happy to be wrong about a player. I spent most of the summer trying to jam someone into the Detroit Lions running back three spot becasue I just didn't believe in Craig Reynolds anymore. I went with Mohamed Ibrahim, Zonovan Knight and Jermar Jefferson. I was wrong and it was awesome that I was wrong.
Reynolds is not a guy that you're going to see on Sportscenter. The casual football fan just isn't going to get it. He's not loading up the box score and he doesn't have highlight plays. But he does all the important things that are needed. He's come out of nowhere and he's reminding everyone of why he's here.
In Week 4 against the Packers he makes this beautiful tackle on a kick return to pin the Packers at their own 15 yard line in the fourth quarter.
Stuff like that doesn't go unnoticed. The big reason Reynolds made this team over the other guys, besides injuries, is that he can play well on special teams. This is a perfect example of that.
Then in Week 5 he comes into the game late after the Lions had, for the most part, got the job done and he runs out the clock on any chance the Panthers may have had at getting the ball back and trying for a miracle.
Reynolds ran for 52 yards on seven yards a carry and even scored his first career touchdown. He put the nail in the Panthers coffin on that one.
Then this past Sunday he comes into the game in relief for David Montgomery after Montgomery suffered a rib injury. He had a rough game on the ground with just 15 yards on 10 carries. But he had a big 28 yard reception that helped set up a Riley Patterson field goal.
The big thing though was his unbelievable block on the Amon-Ra St. Brown touchdown.
stuff like this matters. It's not all about the stats we all love to see. If Montgomery is out for an extended period time, Reynolds will need to step up in the run game behind Jahmyr Gibbs. 15 yards on 10 carries isn't going to cut it. That's a tough Buccaneers defensive front though.
I look forward to seeing what Reynolds does next. He's putting everyone on notice right now.
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