The Detroit Lions will be without a key piece of depth in the backfield when they open their season against the New Orleans Saints in Week 1. Earlier this offseason, the Lions traded running back David Montgomery to the Houston Texans in exchange for a 2026 fourth-round pick, a 2027 seventh-round pick, and center Juice Scruggs. In March, Isiah Pacheco signed a one-year, $1.81 million contract with the Lions to complement star running back Jahmyr Gibbs.
More News: ESPN Analyst: Lamar Jackson, Ravens Could Be Heading for Divorce More News: 4 QBs Generating Serious Trade Buzz Weeks Before NFL Regular Season Starts Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, Detroit placed Pacheco on injured reserve due to a back injury. He will miss at least the first four games of the regular season. "Lions placed RB Isiah Pacheco on injured reserve due to a back injury that now will sideline him for at least four games," Schefter posted on X.
During his first four years in the league, Pacheco rushed 576 times for 2,537 yards and 14 touchdowns. On Sunday, Lions head coach Dan Campbell said he was comfortable playing Jacob Saylors if Pacheco had to miss time this season. However, Campbell suggested he wasn't opposed to looking for outside help to boost the backfield before the season.
"I am," Campbell said of Saylors, via the Detroit Free Press. "I’m comfortable with those guys. And I just like the thought of having a guy in our system, think that's important.
Knows our terminology, knows our guys, knows the protections. Just kind of knows it all, man. Understands our quarterback and how he thinks.
I just think that's important." Saylors, who entered the league in 2023 as an undrafted free agent, spent the 2025 campaign with the Lions. He appeared in 16 games, making two rushing attempts for 11 yards last season. In addition to Gibbs and Saylors, the Lions have running backs Sione Vaki and Jabari Small on the 53-man roster.
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