The Detroit Lions are excited to see rookie second-round running back Ameer Abdullah in action again tonight when they take on the Washington Redskins. Abdullah debuted in impressive fashion last week against the New York Jets, carrying the ball seven times for 67 yards (9.6 YPC) while displaying quality speed and vision. His electric debut combined with solid training camp work has some wondering whether he'll unseat Joique Bell as the lead back in Detroit.
Perhaps those thoughts are a bit premature, though. Rookie RB Zack Zenner told Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press that Bell was still "set up to be the starting running back at this point." Bell is currently still on the physically unable to perform list following knee and Achilles surgery this winter, but he is expected to be activated later this month.
Although Bell is still in line for be Detroit's No. 1 back, a change atop the depth chart isn't entirely out of the question. Bell led the Lions with 860 rushing yards last year but failed to crack 4.0 YPC and posted a career-low 322 receiving yards. He's dealt with knee injuries over the past two seasons and has yet to see the field this training camp.
"Seeing all my teammates out there, it makes me anxious wanting to get back out," Bell said via the Detroit Free Press. "Me sitting on the sidelines (against the Jets) and like, 'Wow, my guys are out here balling,' that kind of inspired me to want to get back quicker. But we have to take our time with these things and that's what I'm doing and I'm going to continue to do."
Abdullah is taking full advantage of Bell's absence, showcasing why the Lions felt comfortable investing a second-round pick into him. As of now, Detroit's plan is to split the running back workload between Bell and Abdullah while using Theo Riddick as their No. 3 back. However, as we saw last year with Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard, plans change quickly when one guy outshines the other.
Bell will have to play some impressive ball when he returns to dim some of the shine Abdullah has going for him right now.
