Detroit Lions President Tom Lewand says RB's Jahvid Best and Mikel Leshoure on track for off-season - NFL News
Last season the Detroit Lions were one of the best passing offences in the league but their lack of a running game made them too dependent on just one aspect of the game. That situation however, is set to change in the new season as running backs Jahvid
Best and Mikel Leshoure are set to make their comebacks.
Both running backs were placed on season ending injured reserve early in the regular season after suffering severe injuries.
Best had to end his season early as he failed to shake off the after affects of a concussion suffered in week 6 against the San Francisco 49ers.
Mikel Leshoure who was the cover for Best also went down in training, which resulted in the Lions having to re-sign running back Kevin Smith.
Smith was released by the Lions earlier but injuries to Best and Leshoure forced Detroit to hire him once again.
Lions’ President Tom Lewand in a conference call with season ticket holders provided the updates on both running backs’ health.
“And what I would say is both of those guys are healing well, both of those guys are tracking on pace to be ready to go for the off-season program. You always have a little bit of risk any time a guy is coming off of injury, but we feel very, very good about
where both of those guys are in their rehabilitation progress.”
Lewand also said that Detroit will not be too active in signing free agents this season due to salary cap limitations but will concentrate on retaining their own players who will become free agents as their contracts expire.
The team president also said that they are negotiating with star wide receiver Calvin Johnson on a new long-term contract.
With Best and Leshoure injured the Lions were 29th overall in the league at the rushing game and had to depend more than necessary on quarterback Matthew Stafford to deliver the goods week in and week out.
Stafford though lived up to all expectations with the Lions passing offence ranking fourth overall in the league behind only that of New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots and Green Bay Packers.
Detroit this year made it to the playoff wildcard rounds for the first time since 1999 and Lewand wants to keep the team together as he believes that they can achieve something special in the new season.
"Our goal is to keep that group together for a long period of time. I think we have the making of something pretty special."
With Best and Leshoure returning back to the roster, Detroit will hope to improve on their rushing game as they look to move one step further in 2012-13.
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