The Detroit Lions are without running back Isiah Pacheco to begin the 2026 NFL season.
Pacheco, who Detroit signed in free agency to a one-year, $1.81 million contract, was placed on injured reserve on Sept. 1. That means Pacheco will miss at least the season's first four games.
With Pacheco sidelined to begin the year, Detroit needs its other backs to emerge to spell star running back Jahmyr Gibbs.
On Monday, Lions head coach Dan Campbell was asked if Jacob Saylors is ready to take over as Detroit's No. 2 running back.
"Well, I kind of mentioned this. To me, it's by committee, too. Now, (Sione) Vaki, I see Vaki getting some reps too now. I mean, I don't see like, 'OK, well, Saylors is like running back two. Saylors brings special teams value and
there's things that he's been able to do. We've seen more of him than Vaki in games, preseason games.
"But, Vaki's banked some pretty good reps in practice. And we know Vaki's a very valuable special teams player, too. But, we feel like Vaki's ready to take some of this on too as a runner and a pass protecter and a receiver. So, we feel good with either one of those guys in there when Jah needs a breather," Campbell said.
Coach Campbell on the Lions' RB2 role pic.twitter.com/H0AW2iVt70
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) September 7, 2026
Saylors had just a pair of carries for 11 yards last season with the Lions. The 5-foot-11, 195-pound back led the Lions and ranked ninth in the NFL with 897 kickoff return yards in 2025, averaging (27.2 yards per kick return). Saylors totaled 499 rushing yards and five touchdowns with the St. Louis Battlehawks in the 2025 UFL season. He joined the Lions as an undrafted free agent after signing with the Cincinnati Bengals following the 2023 NFL Draft.
Vaki appeared in 11 games last season, registering 10 special teams tackles. The 5-foot-11, 216-pound back was selected by Detroit in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Utah. Vaki has seven career carries for 18 yards.
The Lions also recently re-signed running back Jabari Small to its practice squad.
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This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Lions envisioning RB2 'by committee' behind star Jahmyr Gibbs
