Mere minutes after Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Drew Petzing proclaimed Jahmyr Gibbs’ value as an engaged teammate during his eight-day “hold-in” over a contract extension, the star running back took it a step further when he slipped on his uniform and pads for the first time in training camp.
After Gibbs did some stretching and work off to the side with a trainer in the morning on Thursday, Aug. 6, he jogged over to join his fellow running backs, who stood near the grandstand filled with fans at the team’s Allen Park headquarters.
As he approached, fans let him hear their appreciation with a hearty ovation.
The applause was intended for Gibbs’ decision to begin practicing. But it also could have served as an appreciation for the handling of a tricky situation by Gibbs and the Lions. Because things could have been worse – like Baker Mayfield-worse, as they are in Tampa, where contract hostilities are running hotter than police reports featuring former Lions.
It ended more than amicably, of course, when Gibbs agreed to a three-year, $67.5 million extension Thursday afternoon that runs through 2030, features $51.5 million in guaranteed money and could be worth up to $75.75 million. The average annual value ($22.5 million), the guaranteed dough and the total all rank him as the NFL’s highest-paid running backs.
Dan Campbell, as a former player himself, did a good job threading being the coach, who wants all his players on the field and participating, and sympathizing with Gibbs’ desire for fair market value as one of the NFL’s top running backs.
“Look, I’m anxious to get Gibbs back out there,” Campbell said Tuesday. “Every day that goes by, that’s another day that you feel like you miss with him and getting him out there with the guys and him doing his part. But, there again, man, it’ll get done when it gets done.”
Gibbs and his agent, Todd France, were clearly waiting for the market to be set, which started when the Atlanta Falcons reached an agreement on a three-year deal worth up to $75 million with their own hold-in running back, Bijan Robinson, on Tuesday.
On Thursday morning, another domino fell when Jonathan Taylor, a top-of-the-market running back, agreed to a two-year, $44 million extension with the Indianapolis Colts.
That was all Gibbs needed to finally suit up for practice. Though “practice” is a generous term for Gibbs essentially going through little more than stretching and a walk-through after missing the first six practices of camp.
But here’s another thing that impressed me about Gibbs’ situation: He did everything but suit up during his hold-in and still exemplified leadership among his fellow running backs.
“I think you see, again, it’s set by the standard at the top of the room,” Petzing said. “In terms of the way he approaches things, the way that he goes about his job, it pushes everyone in that room to be better.”
That leadership role previously belonged to running back David Montgomery, now in Houston. Now it’s on Gibbs, who’s still barely 24 years old and now has to assume the mantle of leadership, to say nothing about being an elite player.
Frankly, he’s even more than that. After quarterback Jared Goff, he’s the most important player on the team. He ranked fifth last year in yards from scrimmage with 1,839, but he’s going to be relied on more than ever. Not only is Montgomery gone, but the offensive line is going through a pretty big evolution with a new center, a rookie right tackle and Penei Sewell switching to left tackle.
And, of course, the Lions also have a new offensive coordinator (again) in Petzing, who has to make it all work.
There’s no question Gibbs will be his old, dynamic self once he’s full-go in practice. Since he has been attending practice and meetings, he should be up to speed on any new verbiage and plays Petzing has installed.
The biggest concern, in my view, is putting the new wrinkles of the offense into practice and getting his timing down with Goff and his teammates, especially the revamped O-line. Gibbs also doesn’t have much experience being on the field while Petzing is calling plays. For now, that’s not a concern, though.
“I think that working relationship is still there,” Petzing said. “I mean, we’re still communicating, we’re still talking through practice reps and different looks and things that we want to do or things that I think he can do at a high level.
“So, if anything, it gives me the opportunity to try to highlight some other opportunities and give other guys the ball in practice and see what else we could do in those events. I think that’s a big part of being an offensive coordinator, is adapting to who’s available, who’s out there, how do we move people around, how are we dynamic and difficult to defend?”
Or – and this is just a thought – simply hand Gibbs the ball and let him juke and zip his way down field as defenders grasp at air.
Watching Gibbs work his mesmerizing fleet-footed magic on the field in pads – with a football in one hand and a fat, new contract in the other – is the next step.
And if we know anything about Gibbs, it’s that he usually takes the next step rather quickly – and successfully.
Contact Carlos Monarrez at cmonarrez@freepress.com and follow him on X @cmonarrez.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Even before new contract, Jahmyr Gibbs and Lions aced his ‘hold-in’
Reporting by Carlos Monarrez, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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By Carlos Monarrez, Detroit Free Press | USA TODAY Network
