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Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) Kirthmon F. Dozier / USA TODAY NETWORK

Lions first-round RB sets lofty goal for rookie season

By Tommy Fradenburg | Last updated 9/6/23

It's the eve of kickoff for the 2023 NFL season, a time when every team has some measure of optimism about the campaign ahead.

Optimism is especially high in Detroit for the first time in a long time. The Lions are the betting favorite to win their first division title since it was called the NFC Central in 1993, with major expectations for rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs.

Gibbs told ESPN's Michele Steele his expectations for himself are just as high.

Used as a weapon in the ground and passing game in college at Georgia Tech and Alabama, Steele asked Gibbs if he could get to the 1,000-rushing, 500-receiving yard mark in his first NFL season.

"Most definitely. Especially in this system," he said.

Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs is setting a high bar for himself in Year 1 - including OROY - but he knows it starts with putting the Lions in the win column.

“If we win, the rest will come.” https://t.co/vJLluoEnHg
— Michele Steele (@MicheleSteele) September 6, 2023

Even with the 17th regular-season game, only San Francisco 49ers star Christian McCaffrey reached those milestones last season, but if the plan in Detroit works, there's plenty of reason to believe Gibbs can too.

A decent offense line in 2022 should improve with the return of Halapoulivaati Vaitai, who missed the entire season after having back surgery. Pro Football Focus ranks the Lions as the No. 5 unit in the NFL, and even without Vaitai, Detroit rushed for 128.2 yards per game with D'Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams last year. (Both running backs are with new teams in 2023.)

Quarterback Jared Goff and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson have also proved they're willing to involve their backs in the passing game, with Swift catching 48 passes in 14 games last year.

Gibbs finished his college career with almost double the receiving yards to Swift during his days at Georgia and put in a performance at the combine (second overall grade) that convinced the Lions to draft him with the 12th overall pick in the draft.

Jahmyr Gibbs: Run. Catch. Block. Repeat… at a high level. #OnePride pic.twitter.com/ozdIzABSfg
— Woodward Sports Network (@woodwardsports) August 31, 2023

Head coach Dan Campbell told ESPN Gibbs may be eased in to action against Kansas City on Thursday night with veteran David Montgomery at his disposal but will be an important piece of the offense all year.

The pieces are in place for the unexpectedly successful partnership of Goff and Johnson to take the next step. After a 1-6 start to the year, Detroit just missed the playoffs by finishing 8-2, and the two have had an entire offseason to continue meshing.

Gibbs will need to get plenty of volume through the air while building leads and on the ground while holding them if he hopes to hit the 1,000/500 mark. If he does, the Lions will be division champions for the first time in three decades.

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