This season, Detroit Lion challenge run back D’Andre Swift: Fight through bumps and bruises and play through all 17 games in 2022.
Swift, a runner who suffered an injury in his first two seasons, is now healthy and the team expects him to be one of their top players in terms of attack.
“We all know there’s a difference in getting injured and getting injured,” said assistant coach and backrunner coach Duce Staley. “As soon as you enter this building like running back – First day of training camp – you won’t feel the same. So there’s going to be some stuff he’s going to have to fight for and he’s going to have to get through that. “
It’s a blunt statement from Staley, but it’s the honesty Swift and the rest of the Lions roster expect from the coaching staff. Those words carried more weight from Staley, who was once a NFL rerun for 10 seasons.
“Duce will tell me what I need to hear, and that’s what you need,” Swift said. “That’s the kind of guy I want to play for.”
The 23-year-old is up to the challenge, hitting the weight room during the off-season and arriving at camp significantly bigger and stronger.
“Full-body strength,” Swift says of her resting regimen. “Capture my body properly.”
The Lions are also responsible for ensuring that Swift can stay healthy. They plan to increase the workload in his training camp but also won’t overwhelm him.
“Maybe a little bit, we strengthen him for a couple of days, give him a rest on the third day,” said coach Dan Campbell. “But we’ll be smart with him.”
Swift has clearly shown to be a powerful weapon for Lion’s attack. He improved his all-round pitch from 878 during the rookie season to 1,069 last year. But the combination of sharing a backyard with Jamaal Williams and persistent injuries limited him to just 151 dashes last year, ranking him 30th among NFL defenders.
Campbell saw enough potential in the second pick of 2020 and admits it will be difficult to get Swift on the field once the season begins.
“Swift is one of our most explosive players when it comes to offense,” Campbell said. “It was like literally, we felt like ‘Okay, man, if we get it all set up and have any space, this guy can take it home.’ He’s got that ability, and so, oh my gosh, man, you want those men on the field every play.”
Swift can also benefit from the high expectations of the attack line. While the injury led to last season to settle on the left Taylor Decker missed the first eight games of the season and the Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow The last 13 games, all five starters were healthy.
Swift says “that means the world” if it stays that way.
Associated Press report.
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