2023 Stat Prediction for David Montgomery
The Detroit Lions will enter the 2023 season with a new running back tandem: David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs.
The Montgomery-Gibbs combo replaces last year's duo of Jamaal Williams and D'Andre Swift, which combined for 1,608 rushing yards.
Montgomery, formerly of the Chicago Bears, is expected to receive the bulk of the carries. Meanwhile, Gibbs, the No. 12 overall pick in the 2023 draft, is expected to serve as a complement to Montgomery and contribute as both a runner and a receiver out of the Lions' backfield.
Montgomery – a free-agent acquisition of Detroit general manager Brad Holmes this offseason – comes to the Motor City after spending his first four NFL seasons with the Bears.
During his final season in the Windy City, he suited up for 16 games, and accumulated 801 yards and five touchdowns on 201 carries (4.0 yards per attempt). He also added another 316 yards and a single score as a pass-catcher.
He finished his time in Chicago with 3,609 yards and 26 touchdowns as a runner, plus an additional 1,240 yards and four scores as a receiver.
Williams – as the Lions' bell-cow back a season ago – rushed for a career-high 1,066 yards and 17 touchdowns. With Montgomery sliding into Williams' role in Detroit's run-heavy offense, the former Bears back is naturally expected to replicate Williams' production.
While the comparison between the two backs is bound to happen, don't expect Montgomery to try to be anybody but himself in the Lions' backfield this upcoming season.
"I’m here to be me," Montgomery said, after signing with Detroit. "I know I can bring a lot to the table. I don’t want to be labeled as just can do this for a team or for the offense. I want to be able to do everything that (Lions offensive coordinator) Ben (Johnson) asks me or coach (Dan) Campbell asks me to do, even (running backs) coach (Scottie) Montgomery. Whatever they need from me, I’m down to do. Got that worker’s mentality, and I’m ready to get to work."
In his first season in Detroit, I'm projecting Montgomery to record 934 yards and 11 touchdowns on 217 carries. Meanwhile, I'm projecting him to contribute another 207 yards and a score as a receiver.
