Detroit Lions re-sign 22-year-old running back.
ALLEN PARK: In advance of his free agency, 22-year-old running back Zonovan Knight is being re-signed by the Detroit Lions.
At a position the Lions should feel good about going into the offseason, Knight adds some youthful depth. Last season, David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs proved to be one of the NFL’s top one-two punches. Additionally, there wasn’t much space for touches behind those two, so the Lions may feel secure in passing on this talented free-agent class.
Knight’s first season with the Lions was cut short after only two games due to a shoulder injury. He finished the year on injured reserve but still gets a new deal ahead of free agency opening next week.
The running back flashed during his rookie season with the New York Jets in 2022. Knight ran 85 times for 300 yards and one score in seven games that year. He was out of New York after the Jets added Dalvin Cook and welcomed back the talented Breece Hall from injury entering this previous campaign, though.
Brad Holmes and Co. still have some decisions to make regarding the back of their running back rotation. Mohamed Ibrahim and fullback Jason Cabinda remain without contracts. And Craig Reynolds is an exclusive-rights-free agent.
Ibrahim suffered a year-ending injury after landing with the Lions as an undrafted free agent. Cabinda has been a key piece on special teams while making the successful switch from linebacker to fullback. He’s been hampered by injuries in recent seasons, so it’ll be interesting to see what happens there.
Knight got a brief taste of life as a starter in the NFL with the Jets. The Lions don’t have anything resembling a need at running back. But Knight provides some intriguing depth based on age and what he did in that limited showing in New York. Knight was a three-year starter at North Carolina State, where he ran for 2,286 yards and 18 scores and added 48 catches and 337 yards.
