D’Andre Swift leads the Lions in rushing yards, scrimmage yards and receptions – and flat-out talent – and he’s yet to start a game this season. Not that he cares.
“Not at all,” Swift said Wednesday. “Winning, first and foremost, matters to me. Starting doesn't matter to me at all. As long as I'm able to impact the team and impact the game in some way, shape or form, it's fine with me."
Starting doesn’t matter to Dan Campbell either. It really doesn’t matter in general. Fact is, Swift is being used like a starter, just as the Lions promised. He’s tied for sixth in the NFL in touches and he’s second among running backs in receptions – and first in receiving yards. Swift hasn’t quite hit running backs coach Duce Staley’s target of 25 touches per game, but it might not be long before he does.
Maybe as soon as this Sunday against the Bears, which could also bring his first start.
“That can very easily come this week," Campbell said Wednesday. "I don’t know if I’d read too much into (who starts). I think it was more of, ‘Hey, let’s see where he’s at. He’s still kind of coming off these injuries. We’ve got to use him the right way. Be careful. ... But look, certainly, I think you’re going to see a lot more of Swift and he can very easily be out there on the first play. I think he’s done enough to earn that."
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Swift dealt with a groin injury in training camp, which he's still nursing now. He's been a limited participant at practice throughout the season. He's been full-go in games. Dating back to last season, Swift is one of only three players in the NFL who's put up at least 70 scrimmage yards in each of his last six games. The others?
Derrick Henry and Dalvin Cook.
The Bears stand in the way of Swift's streak on Sunday. So does a former teammate: linebacker Roquan Smith. The former eighth overall pick has led the Bears in tackles every season since he entered the NFL. And he led Georgia in tackles in 2017 when Swift was a freshman and one of Smith's primary targets in practice.
"I was going against him a lot," said Swift. "He was fast, sideline to sideline. One of the best cover linebackers I went against still to this day."
Swift said he and Smith are "real tight." It will be Smith's goal to keep it that way on Sunday whenever Swift has the ball. It will be Swift's goal to leave him in the dust.
"Definitely looking forward to the matchup," said Swift. "Great linebacker, great instincts. Just going to make me turn up my game even more."
If he does, heads up. Early in his second season, Swift feels headed for stardom. He might be the best player left behind by a bad regime. He's certainly the most dangerous. The new regime has used him a lot, with plans to use him even more. That's good with Swift, and potentially a problem for the Bears.
"Whatever workload they see for me Sundays, Mondays, whatever it is, I'm going to do it to the best of my ability," he said.