Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs was supposed to be a major part of the Lions’ offensive plans on Sunday in their NFL season opener against the Green Bay Packers. But Gibbs was overshadowed by teammate David Montgomery.
It tends to make a Lions fan, and fantasy players too, ask if there was something wrong with Gibbs. Was he injured and just couldn’t play hard against the Packers?
What Happened to Jahmyr Gibbs?
In the Lions’ 27-13 loss to the Packers at Lambeau Field on Sunday, Sept. 7, Gibbs only had nine carries for 19 yards and 10 catches for 31 yards. Montgomery, though, had 11 carries for 25 yards and four receptions for 18 yards.
As the game ended, there was an unconfirmed report that Gibbs might have hurt his left ankle. “Jahmyr Gibbs may have tweaked his L ankle with 1min left in the 4th. Video obscured so can’t say for sure what happened,” Detroit Lions injury analyst Jimmy Liao MD posted on X. “Limped off.”
Week 1 yards per carry from notable high-end fantasy RBs:
Saquon Barkley (3.3)
Bijan Robinson (2)
Jahmyr Gibbs (2.5)
Christian McCaffrey (3.1)
Ashton Jeanty (2)
Bucky Irving (2.6)
Chase Brown (2)
Jonathan Taylor (3.9)
Josh Jacobs (3.5)
Omarion Hampton (3.2)
Kenneth Walker (2)— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) September 7, 2025
Gibbs only averaged 2.1 yards per carry in the game. Whether it was due to the Packers’ defensive efforts or simply a lack of new Lions offensive coordinator John Morton not being able to give Gibbs more work remains to be seen.
Morton took over this season after Ben Johnson left to become head coach of the Chicago Bears.
Jahmyr Gibbs may have tweaked his L ankle with 1min left in the 4th. Video obscured so can’t say for sure what happened. Limped off.
— Jimmy Liao MD | Detroit Lions Morning Rounds (@JimmyLiaoMD) September 7, 2025
With all the action (or lack of action) around Gibbs, some fantasy players might have wondered if Gibbs was a good pickup going into the first week of the season. PFSN’s Kyle Soppe had some interesting things to say about Gibbs when looking at him from a fantasy player’s perspective.
“Jahmyr Gibbs had a legitimate case for being the top overall pick in fantasy drafts this summer, and there is no reason to believe he will be anything less than elite this season,” Soppe wrote. “The expectation is that even more of the workload will be shifted onto his plate.
“What is the worst-case scenario? That he simply produces the same video game numbers despite an increase in touches? After all, 1,929 yards and 20 touchdowns can hardly be considered a bad thing.
“He found the end zone in both games against the Green Bay Packers in 2023-24, but none of his 33 touches in those contests gained more than 20 yards,” Soppe wrote. “That almost feels like a win for the defense.
“Green Bay’s unit also held him to just 41 receiving yards across those two games on his seven receptions. Could he be slightly inefficient, by his own incredibly lofty standards, in the season opener?
“I don’t think the Packers have the blueprint to stop him, because I don’t believe one exists,” Soppe wrote. “However, in terms of him breaking the slate in Week 1, those past successes for a divisional rival are noteworthy. For the main slate, I’ll take the other Tier 1 running backs in DFS contests, but that’s splitting the thinnest of hairs.”
While there is no official word on whether or not Gibbs was injured, Lions head coach Dan Campbell might face questions about his inability to run effectively.
