Jahmyr Gibbs is no longer a stranger to the NFL end zone. In the Detroit Lions’ matchup against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, Gibbs sliced past the opposing defense to find his first NFL touchdown, a 21-yard carry.
Although the outing has been horrendous for the Lions, Gibbs has had a solid showing. The Lions’ rookie has tallied 53 yards on eight carries, averaging 6.6 yards per rush.
Gibbs entered Sunday’s contest with 179 rushing yards on 39 carries. The former Alabama standout also had amassed 14 receptions for 70 yards. Now, Gibbs can add a touchdown to his youthful resumé. As of this report, the Ravens lead the Lions 35-6.
Jahmyr Gibbs answers the call
Gibbs will be happy he played today. The 5-foot-9 RB was initially questionable due to a hamstring injury, which forced him to miss the Lions’ past two games. Nonetheless, with starting running back David Montgomery already out, the Lions needed Gibbs today.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell said Gibbs, the Lions’ first-round pick, was going to represent a chunk of Detroit’s offensive game plan.
“Certainly, I think he’s going to need to take the load of it,” Campbell said at his Friday media availability. “We’re just going to have to see where he’s at. I’d like to say we want to be careful with him, but the reality of it is, we need him. So, we’ll go as far as he can take us here — trying to be as smart as we can… But, he’s got to go. He’s ready.”
This isn’t the first time that Campbell has asked his rookie back to take on a bigger role. Montgomery was hurt last month and couldn’t play against the Falcons. Gibbs stepped in, rushing 17 times for 80 yards.
Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson talked Thursday about the impact injuries have had on Detroit’s running game. His scheme is fairly balanced and doesn’t want to be reliant solely on Jared Goff’s arm.
“D-Mo’s a major blow,” Johnson told reporters. “He was a bell cow for us, but like we’ve had so often already this year in the receiver room and the O-line room, someone will step up and rise to the occasion, there’s no doubt about it.”
While Gibbs wasn’t able to bring home the win for the Lions, he proved his potential. With over half the season remaining, don’t be surprised to see Gibbs reward for his courageous game day.
On3’s Suzanne Halliburton also contributed to this article.
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