On Tuesday, the Detroit Lions signed running back Jacob Saylors. For the past two years, Saylors has been arguably the best running back in the UFL as part of the St. Louis Battlehawks.
And while he has an uphill climb in a crowded Lions running back room, with recent injuries to both Sione Vaki and Kye Robichaux, there’s a good chance we see a significant amount of Saylors in the team’s opening preseason game on Thursday, despite the fact that he just joined the team.
So in order to get to know Saylors
a little bit more, we chatted with his Battlehawks positional coach—and former Lions running backs coach—Kyle Caskey.
“You got a really good one!” Caskey said via text. “Not sure why anyone hasn’t picked him up yet.”
After a breakout season in 2024 with the Battlehawks—leading all running backs with 460 yards (4.9 YPC) and five touchdowns—Saylors signed with the New York Giants and the Cleveland Browns during training camp. But his opportunity was limited with both. He played in just eight special teams preseason snaps for the Giants. And with the Browns, he was forced to play in the preseason finale despite signing with the team just two days prior. He managed to turn five carries into 30 yards that game, but it wasn’t enough to make the roster.
Soon after, Saylors went back to the Battlehawks and had another dominant year, finishing second in the UFL with 499 rushing yards and leading the league with five rushing touchdowns. For the second straight year, he earned himself a spot on the All-UFL team.
JACOB. SAYLORS.
— United Football League (@TheUFL) May 11, 2024
Saylors was unstoppable on this TD run for the @XFLBattlehawks ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/ekWGRhIy9Z
“Should have led the UFL in rushing, but we had clinched everything with two games to go,” Caskey said. “And he didn’t see the field in the last six quarters of the regular season because we didn’t play him.”
So what does Saylors bring to the Lions’ backfield?
“Underrated explosiveness,” Caskey said. “Great vision. Smart and knows the game. Good in protections, but will need to get some work vs. the NFL level rushers. Really good inside zone/duo runner because he can see the hole and make those quick cuts and accelerate out of them.”
Saylors reminds Caskey of another NFL running back he used to coach in Detroit: former 2019 sixth-round pick Ty Johnson. While Johnson was stuck behind a few good running backs with the Lions, he just enjoyed a career season with the Bills, particularly as a receiving threat. That’s something in Saylors’ wheelhouse, as he hauled in 245 receiving yards last year with the Battlehawks.
What a response by the Battlehawks ⚔️
— United Football League (@TheUFL) April 20, 2024
Jacob Saylors puts the @XFLBattlehawks back on top pic.twitter.com/VRXdYiGtbn
And in terms of Detroit’s high standard for player character, Caskey notes that Saylors should fit right in.
“Overall GREAT human,” Caskey said. “Has a daughter and is very motivated to help give her a great life.”
The Lions will open up the preseason Thursday night against the Los Angeles Chargers at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.
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