Detroit Lions Terminate Contract of Talented Running Back

The Detroit Lions continued reshaping their running back group Monday, releasing one player dealing with a significant foot problem while addressing other absences in the position group ahead of the final preseason contest.

The team waived Kye Robichaux after the running back sustained a foot injury following the first preseason game. Head coach Dan Campbell had indicated earlier that the issue involved a possible fracture.

“God bless him, dude, he’s got a foot…looks like he may have broken a bone in that foot,” Campbell said.

Robichaux’s departure marks the second consecutive year the Lions have moved on from him following an injury. The former Boston College standout joined the club last season as an undrafted free agent and was waived with an injury designation in August 2025 when he was still a rookie.

In related moves announced the same day, the Lions placed veteran Raheem Blackshear on injured reserve and added Roydell Williams to the roster. The transactions come as the club evaluates depth with the regular season approaching.

Another back facing uncertainty is Sione Vaki, a contributor on both offense and special teams. Vaki sat out the second preseason game because of a back issue that developed overnight.

“He woke up yesterday, and he just had kind of a knot in his back here,” Campbell said. “It’s not major, but it’s enough to where, it’s one of those bad spasms to where we were hoping we could get it out of there. Give him some stuff to hopefully loosen it out. We ran out of time with it.”

Vaki’s recent stretch has been marked by multiple setbacks. He previously missed practice time after suffering a broken nose and an eye injury when a defender’s hand slipped under his facemask.

Campbell expressed disappointment that Vaki could not participate in the second exhibition but remained optimistic about his near-term availability.

“Now the good news, we would have loved to have seen him. I told him that. He wanted to play,” Campbell said. “But also, he got some really good work, coming off of a broke nose, a punched out eye. I’m like, ‘I think we’re good Vaki for a little bit here.’ We’ll get this to calm down. He’ll be ready to practice this week, I would anticipate. I think we’ll be okay there.”

Robichaux arrived with solid college credentials that generated interest around the league. He spent his first two seasons at Western Kentucky before transferring to Boston College for his final two years.

In his senior season with the Eagles, he rushed for 744 yards and 10 touchdowns on 175 carries. Over his full four-year collegiate career he accumulated 2,342 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns while also catching 44 passes for 368 yards and two scores

.Last summer, analysts viewed him as a long shot to crack the final roster. One report suggested he ranked behind fellow rookie Anthony Tyus III on the depth chart at the time.

The latest roster adjustments leave the Lions with decisions still pending at the position as they prepare for the cutdown to the 53-man roster. Injuries have forced the coaching staff to monitor several players closely while testing alternatives in practice and games.

Campbell and his staff have emphasized toughness and availability throughout training camp, traits that become especially critical when the depth chart thins. The backfield remains a work in progress as the team closes out the preseason schedule.

Williams’ addition provides an immediate option for reps that would otherwise go unused. Blackshear’s placement on injured reserve removes another body from the active mix for at least the next several weeks.

For Robichaux, the pattern of early exits due to injury has interrupted what began as a promising professional opportunity in Detroit.

The Lions will continue evaluating the remaining running backs as they finalize their plans for the regular season opener.