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David Montgomery injury update: rehab, instead of surgery, hopes to return to Detroit Lions
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- David Montgomery injury update: rehab, instead of surgery, hopes to return to Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions ' hopes that David Montgomery could return from a knee injury originally thought to require season-ending surgery got a boost Thursday as the running back reportedly received a medical opinion allowing him to rehab the knee instead.
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport posted Thursday evening on X that Montgomery "spent the last few days consulting with medical experts, sources are now optimistic that the star avoided the season-ending surgery that was initially feared."
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The third opinion Montgomery received concurred that Montgomery can rehab his MCL for the next few weeks, rather than get surgery, the Free Press confirmed with a source close to Montgomery.
If Montgomery opted to undergo surgery, something Lions coach Dan Campbell said Monday was happening , the veteran running back would miss the rest of the season, including the playoffs. If he opts to let the injury scar over and heal naturally, he could return at some point in the postseason.
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) runs for yards before being tackled Detroit during the game against the Buffalo Bills at Ford Field in Detroit Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. Montgomery suffered an MCL injury to his right knee in the 48-42 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
"We're in waiting mode here," Campbell said Wednesday.
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David Montgomery injury update
The Lions left the door open for Montgomery's return by not placing him on injured reserve as part of a slew of roster moves they made Tuesday.
Montgomery leads the Lions with 12 rushing touchdowns and is second on the team with 775 yards through 14 games. Campbell said the Lions will lean on the opinion of doctors for how to proceed from here.
"You have to," he said. "And it is one of these injuries that's unique because you need to know, is it stable? OK, is it fixed or will it scar? And then be certainly stable for now and for later. And then you got 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 him as well, 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 patter, which as of right now, that's a positive."
This story will be updated.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions RB David Montgomery to rehab knee, instead of surgery
