Analysis

After Montgomery emerged from this past Sunday's 48-42 loss to the Bills with the knee injury, head coach Dan Campbell said Monday that the running back would require season-ending surgery. However, after Montgomery received three "high-level medical opinions" on his injury, per Rapoport, the consensus was that the 27-year-old would be able to avoid a procedure on the knee. Montgomery will still miss Detroit's final three games of the regular season and would also remain likely to miss the wild-card round, though that may be a moot point if the 12-2 Lions are able to secure a first-round bye in the playoffs. For whatever length of time Montgomery misses, Jahmyr Gibbs is poised to see as heightened role as Detroit's clear lead back, while Craig Reynolds and Sione Vaki could see more opportunities as backups to Gibbs.

Analysis

Montgomery spent much of this week visiting medical experts and now believes he can return from his MCL injury before the end of the campaign without undergoing surgery. Placing him on injured reserve before Sunday's game against the Bears not only would rule Montgomery out for the rest of the regular season but also for Detroit's first game of the playoffs. Given that reality, he may be kept on the roster even if there's no chance he plays again through Week 18. The Lions won't have a playoff game until Jan. 18 or 19 if they earn the No. 1 seed in the NFC, giving Montgomery five weeks from the date of his initial injury to recover.

Analysis

Previously expected to undergo season-ending surgery for an MCL tear, Montgomery apparently got promising feedback from medical experts and now hopes he can recover with rest. The report suggests he'll still miss the rest of the regular season but may return at some point in January for a Detroit team that's currently battling for the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

Analysis

Campbell has already said Montgomery is expected to undergo season-ending surgery to address the MCL sprain in his right knee, but with Detroit gearing up to hopefully make a deep playoff push, the standout running back is leaving the door open for an alternative treatment plan. The expectation remains, though, that Montgomery will be shut down for the remainder of the 2024 campaign, leaving Jahmyr Gibbs atop the backfield, with Craig Reynolds and rookie Sione Vaki handling expanded depth roles.

Analysis

Montgomery appeared to sustain the injury on a three-yard run midway through the second quarter of Sunday's 48-42 loss to the Bills. The Lions never ruled him out for the game, but he played limited snaps thereafter, finishing the game with season-low 35 total yards on nine touches (five carries, four receptions). The loss of Montgomery for the rest of the regular season and playoffs likely sets up Jahmyr Gibbs to take on a workhorse role out of the backfield. Behind Gibbs on the depth chart are special-teams ace Craig Reynolds and rookie Sione Vaki, both of whom could carve out larger secondary roles out of the backfield after logging just 12 and seven touches, respectively, through Detroit's first 14 games. Montgomery wraps up his second season in Detroit with 185 carries for 775 yards (4.2 YPC) and 12 touchdowns to go with 36 catches for 341 yards on 38 targets. He'll likely be placed on injured reserve in the coming days.

Analysis

Montgomery is undergoing additional tests on his knee Monday and will seek a second opinion on whatever initial results he receives, but Schefter reports that at this time the standout running back is considered out indefinitely. The Lions have yet to make an official announcement regarding Montgomery's status, but the severity of his knee injury ultimately may rule him out for the remainder of the regular season and thus the fantasy playoffs, if not the entire 2024 campaign. Montgomery's injury is the latest in a series of brutal blows for Detroit's roster, especially as the team works to mount an impactful playoff run. The lone bright spot for the Lions is that Jahmyr Gibbs remains a backfield option capable of thriving in a lead role. Beginning Sunday versus Chicago, though, it may fall to Craig Reynolds and Sione Vaki to complement Gibbs in Montgomery's place.

Analysis

The Lions fell behind quickly in the contest and attempted only 15 rushes as a result. That left Montgomery largely uninvolved, though he did top 30 receiving yards for the fourth straight game. A Week 16 matchup against the Bears should allow a more balanced offensive game plan for the Lions, with Montgomery returning to a more typical level of involvement.

Analysis

Montgomery capped off the opening possession of the game with a three-yard walk-in rushing touchdown, his fifth in the last five games. The veteran back generally found running room at a premium, but he set a new season high in receptions and targets. Montgomery has consistently complemented his work on the ground with solid production through the air of late, as he'll head into a Week 15 home showdown against the Bills on Sunday, Dec. 15 with a 14-143-0 line on 14 targets in the last four contests.

Analysis

Montgomery showed no ill effects from the shoulder injury that prompted him to exit in the third quarter of Detroit's 24-6 Week 12 win over the Colts. His 21 carries easily surpassed his season average of 13.2 rushing attempts heading into this game, and he topped Jahmyr Gibbs by one rushing yard for the team lead. After being held without a rushing touchdown Thursday for only the third time this season, Montgomery will look to get back into the end zone Week 14 against the Packers on Thursday Night Football.