THE Detroit LionsHopes that David Montgomery can return from a knee injury that was initially expected to require season-ending surgery were boosted Thursday as the running back reportedly received medical advice to rehabilitate the knee place.
Ian Rapoport, NFL Network Insider posted Thursday evening on X that Montgomery “spent the last few days consulting with medical experts, sources are now optimistic that the star has avoided the season-ending surgery that was initially feared.”
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The third opinion Montgomery received agreed that Montgomery could rehabilitate his MCL over the next few weeks, rather than have surgery, the Free Press confirmed with a source close to Montgomery.
If Montgomery opts to have surgery, which Lions coach Dan Campbell said Monday, the veteran running back would miss the rest of the season, including the playoffs. If he chooses to let the injury heal and heal naturally, he could return to the playoffs at some point.
“We’re in waiting mode here,” Campbell said Wednesday.
David Montgomery injury update
THE Lions left the door open for Montgomery to return by not placing him on injured reserve as part of a series of roster moves they made Tuesday.
Montgomery leads the Lions with 12 rushing touchdowns and is second on the team with 775 yards in 14 games. Campbell said the Lions will rely on doctors’ opinions on how to proceed from now on.
“You have to,” he said. “And it’s one of those injuries that’s unique because you have to know is it stable? OK, is it repaired or is it going to leave scars? And then definitely be stable for now and for later .And then you have to rely on him like, ‘Hey man, I’m good, I can do this.’ And so it’s a combination certainly of the doctors but also him, where he thinks he can go with it and can he protect himself and play at a high level And so we’re in a holding pattern, which at the moment,. It’s positive.”
This story will be updated.
This article was originally published on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions RB David Montgomery to Rehabilitate Knee Instead of Surgery
