Many heads were scratched in Detroit when the Lions took a running back with the No. 12 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
But Jahmyr Gibbs tried to silence those critics on Thursday night in his Lions debut. The running back proved to be a star at Alabama after transferring from Georgia Tech and is primed to have a successful career in the NFL.
Gibbs' talent was never a debate, however, and now the pressure to live up to the No. 12 pick expectations is the bar he'll have to clear. As the league continues to place less of a premium on running backs, players like Gibbs are left to show there's still value in the running back and not just any athlete that comes in off the street.
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By the time their preseason contest kicked off against the Giants, Lions fans, football fans, fantasy managers, sports bettors and draft analysts had their eyes on No. 26 in Honolulu Blue.
Jahmyr Gibbs stats vs. Giants
Despite being a rookie, Gibbs was treated like a seasoned veteran.
The rookie didn't play much throughout the preseason opener, but it didn't take long to make an impression. Currently in a timeshare role with David Montgomery, Gibbs was out to prove that it's his backfield in the present — and the future.
Gibbs — who only played the first quarter — participated in three drives, one of which ended on the opening play after quarterback Nate Sudfeld tossed an interception.
He carried the ball six times for 19 rushing yards, an average of 3.2 yards per carry despite losing three yards on his first touch.
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But where Gibbs thrived was in the passing game, picking up 18 yards on his only target of the game.
18 yard reception for Jahmyr Gibbs on a checkdown pic.twitter.com/oCigHDxsTR
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) August 11, 2023
Gibbs has been said to have that Alvin Kamara-like ability to kickstart an offense with his play in the passing game. The rushing stats may not jump off the page, but Gibbs' play as a receiver could make for a noticeable difference in a Detroit offense that had been hoping the now-departed D'Andre Swift would fill that role.
And his play in his brief, preseason Week 1 debut is only a sign of things to come for the newest motor in Detroit's offense.
