We don’t yet know who will lead the Detroit Lions in rushing yards in 2023, but we do know it won’t be the same player as the team’s 2022 leader. Jamaal Williams and his 1,066 rushing yards are now in New Orleans after the veteran RB opted to depart in free agency.
The change in rushing leader is nothing new for Detroit. In fact, it’s what the Lions do.
Whether it’s rookie Jahmyr Gibbs or free agent acquisition David Montgomery, whomever leads the Lions in rushing yards in 2023 will be the fifth different player to achieve that status in the last five seasons.
2022: Jamaal Williams
2021: D’Andre Swift
2020: Adrian Peterson
2019: Kerryon Johnson
Johnson was the last Lions back to repeat as the rushing leader, also topping the team in 2018.
The instability at running back extends quite a bit deeper for Detroit. The last Lions RB to repeat as the team’s leader in rushing yards prior to Johnson in 2018-2019 was Jahvid Best. That was back in 2010-2011.
Mikel Leshoure, Reggie Bush, Joique Bell, Ameer Abdullah and Theo Riddick all paced the team in rushing yards in seasons between Best and Johnson, with Abdullah being the only player to do it twice (2015 and 2017).
Montgomery is looking to get back to being his team’s leading rusher. He was the top ground yardage gainer for the Chicago Bears in three straight seasons (2019-2021) before giving way to QB Justin Fields in 2022.
