Running back Jahmyr Gibbs plans to start his second NFL season on time when the Detroit Lions open their 2024 campaign against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night.
Gibbs sustained a hamstring injury during training camp on Aug. 12, and the former Alabama ball-carrier didn’t return to practice until last week.
On Monday, Detroit coach Dan Campbell said defensive back Ifeatu Melifonwu was the only player the Lions had injury concerns about entering the season-opener.
“I feel good,” Gibbs said on Tuesday. “… I mean when I first got back, you know, had to get back in football shape. First day was rough, I ain’t going to lie. But other than that, it was good.”
Gibbs went to the Pro Bowl as a rookie after he ran for 945 yards and 10 touchdowns on 182 carries and caught 52 passes for 316 yards and one touchdown in 15 regular-season games.
After that PFWA All-Rookie team performance, Gibbs became the eighth rookie in NFL history with at least 144 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns in the postseason. And he’s the only one in that group who also had 11 or more receptions.
In 2024, Gibbs said he’s expecting “faster play without thinking, so just reactionary.”
“I’m confident in the offense coming into Year 2,” Gibbs said. “Knowing the offense more and being more confident, it helps overall with performance, and I feel good.”
Detroit divided its backfield duties between Gibbs and David Montgomery in 2023. Montgomery ran for 1,015 yards and 13 touchdowns on 219 carries and caught 16 passes for 117 yards in 14 regular-season games.
“We rely heavily on the run game, so I think it revolves heavily through us and what we do on a consistent basis,” Gibbs said, “so it’s being consistent every week and just doing good every week following our landmarks and knowing what we’re supposed to do. I think after that, everything will take care of itself.”
Last year, the Lions traded up to select Gibbs at No. 12 in the NFL Draft and not only ended up in the playoffs for the first time since 2016, but in the NFC Championship Game for the first time since 1991. That has the expectations for Detroit in 2024 higher than they have been in decades.
“We’re not overhyping it,” Gibbs said. “We’re just taking it one game at a time. I mean, we know what we’re going to do, what we’re capable of doing.”
Detroit opened the playoffs last season by beating the Rams 24-23 on Jan. 14. The Lions and Los Angeles square off again at 7:20 p.m. CDT Sunday at Ford Field in Detroit. NBC will televise the game.
“Last year was pretty crazy, that game,” Gibbs said, “so pretty sure it’s going to be the same thing, probably more, so I’m excited.”
