Montgomery was feared to have sustained a season-ending knee injury just four weeks ago.
A juggernaut Detroit Lions offense appears to be getting stronger.
The Lions listed David Montgomery as a full participant in an estimated practice report on Tuesday just weeks after he was believed to be lost for the season with a knee injury.
The Lions conducted a walk-through rather than a full practice on Tuesday. But Montgomery’s designation is further indication that Detroit’s 1-2 running punch of Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs will be at full strength for Saturday’s divisional round tilt against the Washington Commanders.
It’s great news for the Lions, who remained elite even in the three-plus games since Montgomery injured his knee in Week 15 against the Bills. Detroit scored 31 points or more in each of its last four games as Gibbs averaged 150.3 yards from scrimmage and tallied eight touchdowns in a featured role in Montgomery’s absence.
But Detroit’s offense is even more dynamic with Montgomery in the mix, a daunting prospect for the Commanders and anybody else the Lions might face this postseason. His return was unfathomable in Week 15.
Amid reports that Montgomery had torn his MCL, head coach Dan Campbell told reporters that Montgomery required season-ending knee surgery. Since then, Montgomery sought and received medical opinions that recommended rehab rather than season-ending surgery on his MCL injury.
Campbell has since said that he expects Montgomery to return for the playoffs, and now Montgomery’s back in the practice mix.
Montgomery’s designation wasn’t the only good news for the Lions on their practice report. Rookie starting cornerback Terrion Arnold was also listed as a full participant after suffering a foot injury in Detroit’s season finale against the Minnesota Vikings.
Right guard Kevin Zeitler, however, was listed as a non-participant, and his status remains in doubt for Saturday due to a hamstring injury sustained against the Vikings.
