DETROIT — The Detroit Lions have named Jahmyr Gibbs as their primary running back for the 2026 season, with Isiah Pacheco and Sione Vaki designated for reserve roles. This decision follows the departure of David Montgomery and roster adjustments made after training camp.

The Lions’ 2026 running back group includes Gibbs, Pacheco, Vaki, Jacob Saylors, Jabari Small, and Kye Robichaux. Montgomery, who previously shared backfield duties, is no longer with the team. Pacheco joined Detroit in free agency after spending his first three NFL seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, where he served as the lead running back in 2022 and 2023.

Gibbs, a three-time Pro Bowler, has emerged as the focal point of Detroit’s ground game. He took 67 percent of the team’s offensive snaps last season and has averaged 5.3 yards per carry since the start of the 2023 season—the second-highest mark in the NFL. His 49 career touchdowns are the most by any player through their first three seasons in league history, and he is the only Lions player with multiple seasons of 17 or more touchdowns.

Pacheco, who signed with Detroit after receiving interest from multiple teams, said the Lions were his top choice. “I had eight opportunities to go to different teams with Kansas City was one of them. Once they made that move I was looking forward to opening up the door to go somewhere else and (Detroit) was the first place I thought of,” he said. In describing his initial conversation with head coach Dan Campbell, Pacheco recalled being highly enthusiastic, though he refrained from repeating his exact words due to their explicit nature.

The Lions’ running backs produced 1,958 combined rushing yards last season and scored 26 touchdowns—the most in the NFL. The team went 4–0 in games when a running back surpassed 100 rushing yards. Detroit also converted 75.8 percent of its third-and-one and fourth-and-one opportunities, the second-best rate in the league behind the New York Giants.

Reserve running backs bring varied experience. Vaki, who earned the No. 3 roster spot last year alongside Craig Reynolds, contributed primarily on special teams.

Saylors appeared in all 16 games last season almost exclusively on special teams, returning 33 kickoffs for a 27.2-yard average and recording eight tackles. Small went undrafted in 2024 and spent the past two seasons on practice squads in Tennessee and Detroit. Robichaux, injured early in last year’s camp, spent the season on the Reserve/Injured list.

Pacheco’s recent history includes a fractured fibula suffered in Week 2 of the 2024 season. Before that injury, he had averaged 4.9 yards per carry in 2022 and 4.6 in 2023, and totaled 168 scrimmage yards with a touchdown across two Super Bowl victories with the Chiefs. Meanwhile, Gibbs’ workload has steadily increased since 2023, when he played 57 percent of offensive snaps, followed by 56 percent in 2024 and 67 percent last season.

The Lions’ rushing attack generated 14 runs of 20 or more yards last season—fewer than several peers, including the Baltimore Ravens (25), Seattle Seahawks (18), and Buffalo Bills (16). Detroit’s running backs also had 42 negative-yardage rushes in 2025, tied for 21st in the league.