One of the most frustrating facts of the Lions' 1-5 start is all-too familiar: D'Andre Swift cannot stay on the field. The most frustrating figure, then, is this: 27.
That's the number of carries for Swift through six games. The running back who entered Week 7 leading the NFL in yards per attempt is now tied for 66th in attempts. The star who was supposed to finally stay healthy this season has been so frequently injured he hasn't played since Week 3.
The rusher with all the talent in the world, an ankle-snatching, pass-catching, game-breaking extraordinaire, has been out-rushed by eight quarterbacks as we approach the midway point of his third NFL season. As we approach the Nov. 1 trade deadline.
Can the Lions trust D'Andre Swift? That's a question for GM Brad Holmes to ponder over the next week. If the answer is no, if Holmes doesn't envision Swift leading the Lions' backfield whenever this team is ready to win, he has to explore a trade. After oft-injured running back Christian McCaffrey brought back four draft picks last week for the Panthers, Holmes has to at least see what might be out there for Swift.
Swift, 23, will be a free agent after next season. Are Holmes and the Lions ponying up for a player who can be counted on to miss a handful of games every year? Are they hitching themselves to a running back at precisely the time running backs tend to wear down? As incredible as Swift can be when he's on the field, are the Lions comfortable with his history of being stuck on the sidelines?
This is not to advocate for Detroit dumping one of the most talented players from one of the most talent-deficient rosters in the NFL. This is to say, Holmes has to face the facts and get creative. The rebuilding Lions still have so many holes to fill, including a potentially gaping one under center after this season, that a couple extra premium draft picks might mean more to their future than a premium running back who has trouble staying healthy.
Which raises the other question for Holmes: Can the Lions trust Jared Goff? After a hot start to the season, Goff's limitations have reared their ugly head and cast serious doubt on his viability as Detroit's long-term quarterback. If the answer to that question is no, it's incumbent upon Holmes to gather as much draft capital as possible ahead of one of the QB-richest drafts in recent memory.
The Panthers got a second-rounder, third-rounder and fourth rounder in next year's draft, plus a fifth-rounder in 2024, from the 49ers for McCaffrey. They are armed and ready to attack their own need for a quarterback next April. McCaffrey has a more impressive resume than Swift, of course, but that includes a longer injury history and a much bigger contract. The Panthers were wise to sell with McCaffrey in the midst of his healthiest season in three years.
The Lions would be foolish to sell low on Swift. That makes a bad team worse and a lengthy rebuild longer. But if he returns this Sunday, it's a showcase game for potential trade partners. Would the Bills be interested as they chase their first Super Bowl in franchise history? How about the Dolphins as they chase their first playoff win in over 20 years? Both teams are going for it, and Swift could help them get there.
Quarterback question aside, the Lions, like it or not, have to re-invest at running back this offseason. There's no avoiding it given Swift's inability to stay heathy. Jamaal Williams is slated to be a free agent and best suited as a No. 2 even if he returns. If the Lions can land a second-rounder as part of a package for Swift, they could replace him in the draft without drawing from their own pool of picks, while also adding assets to address their woeful defense. They should be able to plug and play in the backfield behind one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, right?
The Lions did everything they could to keep Swift healthy this year after he dealt with hip, shoulder and brain injuries his first two seasons. They carefully managed his workload in training camp, and running backs coach Duce Staley challenged him to grit his teeth through injuries if and when they arose. For two games -- two games -- it all worked out. Then Swift rolled his ankle, then he re-injured his shoulder and here he is in late October, back on the shelf. And here are the Lions back in the basement of the division.
"It's very frustrating for the kid," Staley said last week. "We all know this is a violent game. We took the precautions during training camp, and that did work. But you know just as well as I do, man, as soon as you hit those lines, anything can happen. And unfortunately, the shoulder, the ankle has really been nagging him, been bothering him.
"You can see it in his eyes, he's a passionate kid, man. He wants to be out there on the field. He's working hard trying to get back, doing extra, so it really means something to him."
But what does Swift mean to the Lions? What does he mean to Holmes and Dan Campbell? What does he mean to their rebuild, to their future, to their designs of finally turning this franchise around? If he means less than extra capital in next year's draft, Holmes has a week from Tuesday to start making calls.
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