The Detroit Lions running back room has been hit hard by the injury bug, and according to NFL Insider Jordan Schultz, the team is reportedly signing UDFA rookie Roydell Williams to help support the room during the final week of training camp.
Williams began his college career at Alabama, where he played four seasons as a reserve, before transferring to Florida State to finish off his college career. With just five college starts under his belt, Williams went undrafted and signed with the Indianapolis
Colts following the draft but was released five days ago in order to make room for veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen.
The Lions’ running backs have looked very solid throughout training camp and are arguably coming off a game where every back who played performed above expectations. But while the talent has been noticeably present, they’ve also been dealing with a string of absences.
Starter Jahmyr Gibbs missed the start of camp, waiting on a new contract extension. His direct backup, Isiah Pacheco, is currently dealing with an MCL sprain that has kept him out the last two weeks. RB3 Sione Vaki missed time after suffering an eye injury, and after returning to a heavy workload in practice, he dealt with back spasms that kept him out of the Lions’ last preseason game. Jacob Saylors has steadily been RB4, but he only returned from an ankle injury less than a week ago. Jabari Small, his most direct challenger, has been an ascending player, but he suffered a concussion in Saturday’s game, which has the potential to keep him out of this week’s practices.
While Gibbs is practicing in full, Pacheco, Vaki, and Small remain question marks for practice and the final preseason game. With Gibbs unlikely to play in that game, that leaves Saylors, Trayvon Williams (last game’s Player of the Game), and Raheem Blackshear to finish out the preseason.
The addition of Roydell Williams gives the Lions more depth so they don’t have to rush players back from injury, while also giving the rookie the chance to impress enough in the final week to try and earn a spot on the practice squad—something we saw quarterback Jake Fromm do a few preseasons ago.
