"By committee" is the worst phrases fantasy football owners want to hear. The Detroit Lions are currently pushing that idea when it comes to their running back rotation which could make deciding on a starter and leading man very difficult. As the team enters a critical season where it is easier playoffs or bust, they are trying to make sure the best players are on the field and so far Ameer Abdullah and Joique Bell have yet to separate themselves from each other.
According to MLive.com, both Bell and Abdullah will split carries this season. Bell was presumed to be the workhorse in 2015 after the departure of Reggie Bush, but the drafting of Abdullah put that into question. Now, the Lions want the two running backs to split carries, something Abdullah admits he is totally fine with if it helps the team win more games in the future.
"It's not really about me," Abdullah said, via the Detroit Free Press. "I always hear a lot of questions like, 'How do you get used to it? How do you? How does Ameer adjust to things?' But at the end of the day, you've got to realize it's not about you. We have a lot of team-oriented goals for this team in the future. We want to be a playoff team. We want to go far into the playoffs. Taking that into account, there's certain things necessary to get that team there, and if that's to be a running back team by committee, I'm going to be that guy."
Right now, Bell is dealing with a knee injury that is keeping him off the field and giving Abdullah the spotlight. The running back has been through this scenario before as he had a slow start last year following an injury. He is hopeful history does not repeat itself. Abdullah told MLive.com that he is certain he will have a healthy season in 2015 despite knee injuries becoming a chronic issue for him.
While the Lions are getting anxious for Bell's debut this season, they are willing to be patient with Calvin Johnson. The leading wide receiver dealt with a lot of injuries last season which may or may not have been a factor in the Lion's season. In order to not have the issue pop up again, the Lions are likely to hold Johnson out of the preseason. Head coach Jim Caldwell told the Detroit Free Press that he is not certain Johnson will play at all, not because of current injuries, but because they are trying to keep the receiver healthy. With Johnson sitting, players like Lance Moore, Jeremy Ross and Corey Fuller are getting a chance to prove they should be on the roster for 2015 alongside Golden Tate.
