An injured MCL appeared to end David Montgomery’s season, and he is not active for Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears, but the Detroit Lions’ running back could be on the field again sometime next month if all goes well.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Montgomery sought out other opinions and will not undergo surgery to repair his MCL. He will rehab the knee and hold out hope that he can return during the playoffs should the Lions make a deep run.
“Optimistic with a couple of doctors that he saw, the last two,” Lions head coach Dan Campbell said Friday. “I think we may see where this thing goes. It certainly sounds more optimistic.”
Montgomery was evaluated by trainers during the second quarter of Week 15’s 48-42 loss to the Buffalo Bills. After testing out his knee on the sideline, Montgomery decided to go back into the game. He finished the game with five carries for four yards.
Montgomery also suffered a knee injury earlier this season, in the first quarter of the Lions’ Week 6 win over the Minnesota Vikings. Although he was initially listed as questionable after being helped off the field, Montgomery returned to the game in the second quarter.
Here are the inactives for Week 16.
DL Casey Rogers
G Aaron Stinnie
CB Greg Stroman
CB Dee Williams
CB Divaad Wilson
QB Tim Boyle
DE Brandon Dorlus
WR Dylan Drummond
T Brandon Parker
RB Carlos Washington
WR Casey Washington
G Elijah Wilkinson
G Graham Glasgow
RB David Montgomery
LB Kwon Alexander
DL Jonah WIlliams
DL Brodric Martin
OL Colby Sorsdal
OL Giovanni Manu
RB Travis Homer
LB Noah Sewell
OL Kiran Amegadjie
DB Ameer Speed
OL Doug Kramer
DL Gervon Dexter
QB Jameis Winston (3QB)
WR Cedric Tillman
CB Kahlef Hailassie
CB Chigozie Anusiem
TE Brenden Bates
DT Shelby Harris
DE Cameron Thomas
11 QB Logan Woodside
15 WR Charlie Jones
75 OT Orlando Brown Jr.
87 TE Tanner Hudson
94 DE Sam Hubbard
98 DT Sheldon Rankins
K Nick Folk
LB Jerome Baker
WR Jha’Quan Jackson
CB Tre Avery
RB Joshua Kelley
CB Gabe Jeudy-Lally
LB Luke Gifford
QB Sam Ehlinger
WR Alec Pierce
CB Chris Lammons
LB E.J. Speed
G Dalton Tucker
DE Isaiah Land
G Atonio Mafi
QB Stetson Bennett
WR Tyler Johnson
CB Emmanuel Forbes Jr.
RB Cody Schrader
OL Dylan McMahon
OL Warren McClendon Jr.
QB Tanner McKee
WR Britain Covey
CB Eli Ricks
OL Nick Gates
OL Darian Kinnard
OL Trevor Keegan
DT Phidarian Mathis
G Chris Paul
CB Michael Davis
WR K.J. Osborn
QB Jeff Driskel
LB Dominique Hampton
LB Mack Wilson Sr.
S Jammie Robinson
RB Trey Benson
OL Paris Johnson Jr.
OL Christian Jones
TE Travis Vokolek
WR Xavier Weaver
WR Xavier Legette
S Jordan Fuller
CB Shemar Bartholomew
WR Velus Jones Jr.
CB Akayleb Evans
C Cade Mays
OL Brandon Walton
DT Jalen Redmon (concussion): out
CB Fabian Moreau (hip): out
FB C.J. Ham (ankle): questionable
S Harrison Smith (foot): questionable
LB Trevis Gipson (ankle): out
TE Brady Russell (foot): out
S K’Von Wallace (ankle): out
RB JaMycal Hasty (ankle): out
CB Marcus Jones (hip): out
S Kyle Dugger (ankle, illness): questionable
G Cole Strange (knee): questionable
T Caedan Wallace (ankle): questionable
S Jabrill Peppers (hamstring): questionable
DE Keion White (groin): questionable
WR Curtis Samuel (rib): questionable
LB Matt Milano (groin): questionable
LB Baylon Spector (calf): questionable
LB Dorian Williams (elbow): questionable
CB Rasul Douglas (knee): questionable
S Damar Hamlin (rib): questionable
S Taylor Rapp (neck): questionable
G Jordan Meredith (ankle): doubtful
CB Sam Webb (back): questionable
LB Kana’i Mauga (illness): questionable
CB Nate Hobbs (illness): questionable
LT Trent Williams (ankle): out
RB Isaac Guerendo (foot): out
DL Nick Bosa (hip, oblique): questionable
LB Dre Greenlaw (Achilles): questionable
DL Robert Beal Jr. (ankle): questionable
LS Blake Ferguson (illness): out
WR Jaylen Waddle (knee): doubtful
WR Dee Eskridge (knee): doubtful
LB Quinton Bell (illness): questionable
LT Terron Armstead (knee): questionable
RT Kendall Lamm (back): questionable
LB Bradley Chubb (knee): questionable
LB Cameron Goode (knee): questionable
WR Tyreek Hill (wrist): questionable
WR Kameron Johnson (ankle): out
S Antoine Winfield Jr. (knee): out
TE Cade Otton (knee): out
LB K.J. Britt (ankle): doubtful
S Mike Edwards (hamstring): questionable
WR Jalen Brooks (knee): out
CB Trevon Diggs (knee): out
G TJ Bass (thigh): questionable
LB Eric Kendricks (calf): questionable
CB Jourdan Lewis (elbow): questionable
S Juanyeh Thomas (knee): questionable
LB Nick Vigil (foot): questionable
DE Micah Parsons (illness): questionable
QB Derek Carr (left hand): out
RB Alvin Kamara (groin): out
WR Bub Means (ankle): out
WR Chris Olave (head): out
WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (chest, illness): questionable
S Javon Bullard (ankle): out
LB Quay Walker (ankle): out
CB Jaire Alexander (knee): questionable
CB Corey Ballentine (knee): questionable
TE Luke Musgrave (ankle): questionable
