Lions Backup RB Crisis Deepens | NFL News

0:00On September 7th, the Detroit Lions are facing a shake-up at running back for the start of the 2026 season. Their main offseason acquisition, Isaiah Pacheco, is sidelined with a back injury and will miss at least the first four games. This means the team needs to find a new primary back up behind Jameer Gibbs. Right now, the depth chart behind Gibbs is looking pretty thin. The Lions have Seal Nevaki, a fourth-round pick from 2024, who's been dealing with injuries since transitioning from safety and Jacob. Sailors, who was picked up from the UFL. Sailors show promise in the preseason, racking up 187 rushing yards on 31 carries, averaging 6 yards per attempt. While it's possible the back up duties will be split, the team seems to be leaning towards Vaki for that primary role. Coach Campbell himself has acknowledged that Vaki is still developing at the position, calling him a little raw earlier this offseason. Vaki's development has been hampered by injuries, including a recent broken nose and eye injury that kept him out of preseason action.

1:05However, he's been getting significant reps in training camp while Pacheco has been out, showing flashes as a receiver and particularly as a pass. Protector, leveraging the physicality that made him a strong safety. Despite Vaki entering his third year with limited offensive stats, the Lions appear confident he can step up. He's said to see his most significant action since late in the 2024 season when he played 10 snaps against the Jaguars. It's a calculated risk, and the question remains, can he deliver when called upon? That's the story for today, NFL News Today, driven by AI.