Lions running back David Montgomery will undergo season-ending surgery for a torn MCL in his right knee.
Detroit was devastated by injuries on Sunday in a 48-42 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Montgomery finished the game and was scheduled for more detailed testing on Monday that revealed the tear. Montgomery is part of a tandem backfield with Jahmyr Gibbs that has combined for 1,822 rushing yards, 23 touchdowns and 736 receiving yards and three TD catches on 75 total receptions this season.
“Yeah, it looks like he’s gonna require surgery that’ll put him out for the rest of the year,” Campbell said Monday. “He had gotten it at some point yesterday in that game.
“I mean, David’s so tough, man. He continued to play through and then got it checked out today and realized that’s what it was. … We’re gonna miss him, man. He’s another one of these guys who got us to this position.”
Montgomery will seek a second opinion, ESPN reported.
It was another difficult day for the Lions’ defense. Detroit entered Sunday’s game with 13 defensive players on injured reserve and is adding three more because of injuries suffered during the loss.
Defensive tackle Alim McNeill tore his ACL and starting cornerback Carlton Davis III broke his jaw and will be sidelined for at least six weeks after surgery, according to multiple reports.
Further, top special teams player and backup defensive back Khail Dorsey suffered a broken ankle and is lost for the rest of the season, per the reports.
Davis will undergo surgery on his jaw and could return for a late postseason run, according to the reports.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell was pretty glum on McNeill and Davis after Sunday’s game.
“Normally if I’m like saying I don’t feel good, that means it’s not good for the rest of the year,” Campbell said. “So, I don’t feel good about it.”
McNeill, 24, signed a four-year contract extension worth $97 million in mid-October. He finishes the season with 25 tackles and 3.5 sacks. He has 11.5 career sacks.
Davis, 27, has two interceptions, 11 passes defensed and 56 tackles in 13 starts this season, his first in Detroit. The Lions acquired Davis from Tampa Bay in March. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent after the season. He has 11 career INTS.
Dorsey, 26, had 14 tackles in 14 games (one start) this season. Dorsey has played 71 percent of the Lions’ special teams snaps this season.
–Field Level Media
