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Craig Reynolds burst onto the Lions scene in Week 14 in Denver. In his first career NFL regular-season game, Reynolds netted 83 yards on 11 carries while filling in for D’Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams. It was quite the debut, but Reynolds was just getting started.
Reynolds earned the starting nod for Detroit in Week 15. And he etched his name in Lions history with his 25-carry, 112-yard performance in the team’s 30-12 upset win over the Arizona Cardinals.
Only Billy Sims has ever run for more yards in his first two games in a Lions uniform than Reynolds. The unheralded, undrafted (2019) D-II product matches Sims and Mel Farr as the only Detroit players to top 75 rushing yards in their first two games. Sims and Farr were both top-10 overall draft picks.
(Because I know you’re curious, Barry Sanders ran for 71 and 57 in his first two starts in 1989)
.@Lions RB @13_CJR has passed Mel Farr (170) for the 2nd-most rushing yards by a Lion in his first two games with the club.
The only player with more rushing yards in their first two games as a Lion is RB Billy Sims, who had 287 in 1980.#OnePride pic.twitter.com/RKnlUjrum6
— Detroit Lions PR (@LionsPR) December 19, 2021
Not bad for a guy who will revert back to the practice squad on Monday. That’s right; Reynolds isn’t even on the Lions’ 53-man roster. He’s been a practice squad elevation both weeks.
Expect that to change quickly for Reynolds, who also thrived in the preseason when given chances to prove himself.
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