David Montgomery injury update: Lions HC Dan Campbell reveals surprising details about RB’s playoff status

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell said Tuesday he expects running back David Montgomery to play next week in the NFC Divisional Round, per Colton Pouncy of The Athletic.

Montgomery, 27, has been sidelined since mid-December after suffering an MCL injury in his left knee during the Week 15 defeat to the Buffalo Bills.

Campbell initially stated Montgomery would undergo season-ending surgery. Montgomery, however, sought additional opinions and opted to rehab without surgery in hopes of making a playoff return. With another week of rest on the table after the Lions locked up the No. 1 seed in the NFC, Montgomery appears set for a comeback.

David Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs — ‘Sonic and Knuckles’ — back for Detroit Lions

Montgomery makes up half of Detroit’s potent backfield, nicknamed “Sonic and Knuckles.” Jahmyr Gibbs plays the role of Sonic, while the more physical Montgomery is Knuckles. The duo combined for 2,187 rushing yards and 32 total touchdowns this season. Gibbs has been the bell cow in the last three games without Montgomery, recording 365 yards over that time.

But the Lions are at their best with both Montgomery and Gibbs in the backfield given their different styles. Campbell previously compared Montgomery to a couple all-time greats.

“Man, to me, he’s a throwback,” Campbell said in November. “There are throwback principles about him, and I mean that with all due respect. His running style is – it’s rare. Look, we were watching clips this morning, I think [Houston Texans RB Joe] Mixon at Houston runs really hard in today’s football too, he’s an aggressive style, but I think David is just different and he’s downhill, doesn’t give up, first guy, he’s not going to let him tackle him, continues to churn his legs, and just violent, violent, never give up, never going down.

“When I watch him, it just reminds me of some of the great ones, man, back in the heyday. I mean, they just – they don’t go down. So, freaking Earl Campbell, man, Earl Campbell ran like crazy, Walter Payton ran like crazy and would not go down.”