The Detroit Lions continue to do some roster shuffling amidst some injuries at training camp. Their latest moves, per the transaction wire, were signing running back Raheem Blackshear and waiving Lawrence Keys with an injury designation.
Blackshear went undrafted in 2022, but has spent some time with the Bills, Panthers (2022-24), Titans, Steelers, and Jets since then. From 2022-24, he played 41 games for the Panthers, starting two. Over that time he carried the ball 52 times for 203 yards and three
touchdowns, while adding another 16 catches for 138 yards. The majority of his playing time, however, came on special teams, where he accounted for 405 snaps over those three seasons.
Since then, he’s only made the Titans, Steelers and Jets practice squads. He also spent a month earlier this year on the UFL’s Columbus Aviators, but did not appear in any games for the team.
At 5-foot-9, 190 pounds, Blackshear is not the biggest of options at tailback, but he’s got decent quickness and a willingness to both play special teams and compete as a pass protector.
The addition comes a day after Lions reserve running back Sione Vaki suffered a poked eye and broken nose at training camp. How long he’ll be out isn’t clear, but Dan Campbell seemed optimistic it wouldn’t be a long time.
“He’s going to be out for a little bit here,” Campbell said Tuesday. “We’re hopeful vision should be okay in time. We’re not going to have him here today. Just going to let him kind of recover a little bit. So, we think he’ll be okay. He’s just going to need a minute here.”
Detroit has also been without No. 1 running back Jahmyr Gibbs, as he continues to hold in for a new contract.
As for Keys, he suffered a hamstring injury on Monday. If he clears waivers, he could revert to the Lions’ injured reserve list.
