D’Andre Swift is hurt once again. The Lions’ top running back and most electrifying offensive weapon will miss the Week 4 matchup with the Seattle Seahawks due to a shoulder and ankle injury.
The injuries are unfortunately always part of the picture with Swift. He missed three games in his rookie season and four more a year ago, and it’s been unrelated injuries. A concussion, a groin strain, a different shoulder sprain; Swift has missed time with them all in the NFL. And he missed games in college with other groin and shoulder injuries.
Keeping Swift on the field has been a challenge, one that Lions RB coach Duce Staley wants to keep fighting. There is a temptation to have Swift run more cautiously and protect himself better, but Staley wants nothing to do with that.
“You don’t. You don’t. It’s – more hurt and harm come from that than just saying, ‘Go.’ You never want to put them in their minds that they’ve got to slow down, or they’ve got to protect themselves on certain plays. You never want to do that, and I’m not,” Staley told reporters this week.
During training camp, Staley was quite audible in demanding Swift finish runs. Swift has ben more effective as a runner in the first three weeks of 2022 in part because he’s not shied away from contact. He’s more effective when he’s running with power to go with his quickness and elusiveness, and it’s shown this year. Unfortunately, the more effective style comes with a cost.
Staley knows his RB well. He could tell Swift wasn’t ready to play this week because of the injury, and No. 32 could very well rest through the Week 6 bye.
“I will say day-by-day,” Staley said of Swift’s status. “Once again, I’m not a doctor. I can’t tell you how long it’s going to take, but however long it takes for him to get back right, that’s what it is.”