Lions hope Saylors' preseason success carries over into regular season

Detroit Lions running back Jacob Saylors. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

After placing RB Isiah Pacheco on IR, Lions hope Jacob Saylors' preseason success carries over into regular season

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Sep 1, 2026 7:24 PM ET

The Detroit Lions hope running back Jacob Saylors can play the Knuckles to Jahmyr Gibbs' Sonic for the time being.

This offseason, the Lions signed former Kansas City Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco to a one-year deal to replace Gibbs' longtime backfield sidekick, David Montgomery, whom Detroit traded to the Houston Texans. Saylors will now have to fill that role.

Lions place Isiah Pacheco on IR, which will increase Jacob Saylors' workload

On Tuesday, the Lions placed two-time Super Bowl champion Pacheco on injured reserve because of a back injury. He will miss a minimum of four games.

Saylors, who went undrafted in 2023, is expected to replace Pacheco. Lions head coach Dan Campbell expressed confidence in the 26-year-old RB after the former East Tennessee State Buccaneers star rushed for 100 yards on 17 carries in a 25-16 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday.

The Lions announced they have placed RB Isiah Pacheco on injured reserve due to a back injury that will sideline him for a minimum of four games. pic.twitter.com/BMZuIDgilg
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) September 1, 2026

"I just like the thought of having a guy in our system, think that's important," Campbell told the Detroit Free Press on Sunday (h/t Field Level Media). "...knows our terminology, knows our guys, knows the protections. Just kind of it knows it all, man. Understands our quarterback [Jared Goff] and how he thinks. I just think that's important."

Saylors isn't a long-tenured member of the Lions. After spending time with the Cincinnati Bengals, Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns and New York Giants, the Lions signed him to their practice squad before promoting him to the active roster in 2025. He played in 16 games, but mainly on special teams, rushing for 11 yards on just two carries. Before that, he played for the St. Louis Battlehawks in the UFL, earning 2024 All-UFL honors after leading the league in rushing yards (460 in nine games).

Saylors made a jump this preseason, rushing for 132 yards on 23 carries (5.7 yards per carry, well above average). Detroit is counting on him to keep gaining momentum when it opens the regular season at home against the New Orleans Saints on Sept. 13 (Fox, 1 p.m. ET).

The Lions don't need to worry about three-time Pro Bowler Gibbs, but finding a replacement for Montgomery is important for Detroit. The fourth-year RB — who tied for 11th in the NFL in carries (243) last season — needs a guy who can give him an occasional breather.

Montgomery, who ranked second on the team in carries (158) last season, did just that. Saylors must now do so while Pacheco recovers.

Clark Dalton

Clark Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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