Lions Running Back Crisis Deepens | Detroit Lions News

Detroit Lions face a major setback before the season starts as new RB Isiah Pacheco is sidelined for the entire 2026 campaign after a complicated back injury—forcing them to bring back tight end Tyler Conklin and lean heavily on Jahmyr Gibbs, who’s now expected to carry 80-85% of the rushing load. With unproven backups Jacob Saylors and Sione Vaki (both dealing with injuries) filling the void, the Lions’ backfield is dangerously thin heading into a brutal early-season schedule that includes road games against the Saints, Bills, and Panthers, plus a primetime showdown with the Jets. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/34d9c6ce9fb911e2