Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery is denying a report that he wants to be traded or released by the team.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that Montgomery “wants out” of Detroit after his role was reduced in the Lions’ offense last season. Rumors at the NFL combine were that the Lions would seek a Day 3 draft pick, likely a fifth-round selection, in return for the seven-year veteran.
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However, Montgomery himself responded to a tweet aggregating Fowler’s report and implied that it wasn’t true, posting “Damn, Dmo told you that?”
Montgomery, who turns 29 in June, appeared in all 17 games for Detroit last season. But he didn’t start any of those games after starting 28 during the previous two years with the Lions, with Jahmyr Gibbs getting the nod.
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In his third season with Detroit, Montgomery finished with 27 fewer carries and 59 fewer yards than in 2024, not a drastic drop in either category. However, the Lions appeared to favor Gibbs and the explosive plays that his speed brings to the offense. Gibbs, soon to turn 24, emerged as one of the top running backs in the NFL. He rushed for 1,223 yards, the seventh-highest total in the league, with 13 touchdowns.
The Lions hired Drew Petzing as their new offensive coordinator, looking for him to bring the same sort of rushing attack that he coached with the Arizona Cardinals. During the 2023 and 2024 seasons, the Cardinals finished among the top eight rushing teams in the NFL while he was offensive coordinator. That would seemingly mean a return to Montgomery and Gibbs sharing the rushing load again.
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Amid rumors that Detroit could trade Montgomery following the season, general manager Brad Holmes told reporters that he wants the running back to return.
“We love David. He’s a great player. We’d love to have him,” Holmes said, via Pro Football Talk. “Kind of want to put last year in the rear view and just move forward. But, obviously, a player has to want to be in a certain place as well. So those conversations are still fluid and we’re just trying to see how it goes.”
Petzing also praised Montgomery and sounded excited to work with him in an interview with Pride of Detroit.
“He’s a dynamic back who can affect the game with the ball in his hands. He’s really a three-down back,” said Petzing. “There’s not a lot you’re going to look at him and say, ‘He can’t do this’ or ‘He can’t do that.’ So that’s all I said. I said, ‘Hey, I’m excited to work with you. I can’t wait to get you into the building.'”
Montgomery is under contract for two more seasons at a combined base salary of $13 million, signing a two-year extension in October 2024.
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