Bo Scarbrough provided the Detroit Lions a much-needed spark in the running game and he is looking to make the most of his opportunity.
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On Saturday afternoon, running back Bo Scarbrough was on the Detroit Lions practice squad. Less than 24-hours later he would make his first NFL start and record his first NFL touchdown on just his third NFL carry.
Scarbrough made the most out of his opportunity.
A highly touted recruit, Scarbrough landed at Alabama to play under Nick Saban and like most Crimson Tide starters, when his college career was completed, he found himself in an NFL camp.
Initially, Scarbrough’s NFL journey was common of most late-round draft picks. The Dallas Cowboys selected him in the seventh round, he then suffered a training camp injury (hip), was released at cut-downs and re-signed to the practice squad of the team who drafted him.
A few weeks later, Scarbrough was released from the Cowboys practice squad, was brought in by the Jacksonville Jaguars and place on to their practice squad. From there he would be poached by the Seattle Seahawks and placed on their active roster, but never saw game action.
After an offseason with the Seahawks, Scarbrough was released again, eventually landing with the Lions on their practice squad. 10 days later he would be promoted to the active roster for a game ironically against the Cowboys.
Here is where Scarbrough’s path diverges from most. Not only was he active for the game, but he was called upon to start — something he wasn’t informed of until Sunday morning, but also something he was prepared for.
“It’s an opportunity,” Scarbrough said in the locker room post-game, “week-in and week-out. Everybody needs an opportunity. It felt regular to me. Playing under coach Saban – this is what we’ve always done. Every week was a different guy up, so you just have to be ready when your number is called. If your number is called, you just have to take advantage of it and run with it.”
And take advantage he did, finishing the game with 14 carries for 55 yards (3.9 yards per carry average) and the aforementioned touchdown — not hall-of-fame numbers by any means, but far more efficient than previous options the Lions have tried at running back after losing Kerryon Johnson to injured reserve.
“I think he’s been working hard since we got him,” coach Matt Patricia said in his post-game press conference. “He’s a big back. He comes downhill, and some of things that we saw, we wanted to give him that opportunity to go out there and show us what he could do. I thought he ran hard, thought he showed the physical part of the run game. That was good for us to see.”
Scarbrough’s fresh legs brought a spark to the Lions and his hard running style left teammates impressed.
“Yeah, I kind of grabbed him after the game and just told him how proud I was of him,” quarterback Jeff Driskel said in his post-game press conference. “He ran the ball super hard. He knew what he was doing. He hasn’t been here very long at all and he stepped right in there, and it was awesome to see him run that ball that hard. He kind of brought some life to our run game and it was awesome. He’s a good player and I’m happy he’s on our side.”
Moving forward, Scarbrough figures to be part of the Lions rushing game plan, as he fills a much-needed role in the offensive scheme. He may not start every week depending on the opponent, but he is prepared to contribute in any way he can, “I’m going to do my job, whatever it is, to help the team win. If I have to give someone a cup of water, then that’s what I do.”
With Scarbrough in the mix, J.D. McKissic thriving in his role, and rookie Ty Johnson developing, the Lions trio was able to rush for over 100-yards (121 yards on the day) for the first time since Week 4 when Kerryon Johnson was last active. The Lions may have finally landed on a running back combination capable of sustaining until Johnson can return to the field.
