Jahmyr Gibbs appears to be closing in on a new contract.
Gibbs, the Pro Bowl running back, ended his eight-day hold-in on Thursday, Aug. 6, and took part in his first practice of Detroit Lions training camp in Allen Park.
He took reps with the first-team offense during walk-through and stretched with teammates before retreating to a side field to do conditioning work with a trainer during position drills.
After watching the rest of practice in uniform for the first time this summer, Gibbs walked into the Lions’ practice facility with a member of the team’s media relations staff. He declined to stop for questions but gave a thumb’s up when a reporter asked if a new deal was close.
The No. 12 pick of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Alabama, Gibbs has two years left on his rookie contract and is scheduled to make $3.183 million in base salary and bonuses in 2026. He is seeking a new contract that will make him one of the highest-paid running backs in the NFL.
Bijan Robinson signed a three-year extension Monday, Aug. 3, that averages $22.25 million per season, a record for running backs. Jonathan Taylor reportedly agreed to a new contract Thursday that pays him $22 million per season.
Lions coach Dan Campbell said this week he was hopeful Robinson’s new contract would expedite the process of getting a deal done with Gibbs, and Campbell and others have downplayed Gibbs’ absence from practice.
The Lions’ leading rusher the past two seasons, Gibbs has been taking part in meetings and weight room workouts during his hold-in.
“For a guy that’s played at such a high level I think his skill set is very obvious,” Lions offensive coordinator Drew Petzing said Thursday. “I think we know what that’s going to look like when he hits the field for us. So not something we’re particularly worried about. I think we can work on those things even when he’s not on the field and would expect us to pick up right where he left off [when he gets back].”
In his first year with the Lions, Petzing said not having Gibbs on the field has given him “the opportunity to try to highlight some other opportunities and give other guys the ball in practice and see what else we can do in those events.”
Isaiah Pacheco has taken most of the first-team reps in Gibbs’ absence but did not practice Thursday. Jabari Small and Jacob Saylors split first-team reps Thursday.
“That working relationship is still there,” Petzing said. “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.”
Linebacker Jack Campbell said it’s good to have Gibbs back on the practice field, even if it makes his life harder on defense.
“I saw him back out there I was like, ‘Gosh, now I got to go one-on-ones against him in routes,’” Campbell joked. “But yeah, no, it’s good to have Jah back. You know what he is, you know what he does for the team. He’s electric. I came in with him. He’s been nothing but good to me and my family the whole time I’ve been here and he’s just a fantastic human being so I mean, yeah, it’s awesome to have him back out here but it’ll make my job a little bit tougher. It’s good though.”
Gibbs, 24, has been one of the most electric playmakers in the NFL since the Lions took him four picks after the Atlanta Falcons selected Robinson in the 2023 draft.
Gibbs has made the Pro Bowl in each of his three NFL seasons, has topped 1,200 yards rushing the past two years and his 49 touchdowns are the most ever by a player in his first three NFL seasons.
“I’m anxious to get Gibbs back out there,” Dan Campbell said this week. “Every day that goes by, that’s another day that you feel like you miss with him and getting him out here with the guys and him doing his part. But there again, it’ll get done when it gets done.”
Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs gives thumb’s up when asked if new deal is close
Reporting by Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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By Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press | USA TODAY Network
