Lions sign veteran running back, work out former first-round pick and others
The Detroit Lions have their answer, for now. Detroit is signing veteran RB Raheem Blackshear after Tuesday’s tryout, beating out a group that included Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Hassan Haskins and Kylin James.
The Detroit Lions tried out multiple running backs on Tuesday following the recent injury to Sione Vaki, and it appears they found their guy. Detroit is signing Raheem Blackshear, a veteran back with 41 NFL games under his belt, to compete for the running back 3 spot on the Lions’ roster. The tryout also included former Kansas City Chiefs first-round pick Clyde Edwards-Helaire, former Michigan Wolverines standout Hassan Haskins, and UFL product Kylin James.
Blackshear appears to be the Lions’ choice for now
Blackshear has been in the league since 2022, coming in as an undrafted free agent. He spent time with the Bills, 3 seasons with the Carolina Panthers, and stints with the Titans, Steelers, and Jets. Most recently, he played for the Columbus Aviators in the UFL. He has 41 NFL games on his resume with only 2 starts.
The Lions are bringing Blackshear in to see what he can do in a running back 3 competition that is wide open right now.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire headlines the tryout group
Edwards-Helaire was the 32nd pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and won 2 Super Bowls with the Chiefs, but he never lived up to that first-round status Kansas City hoped for. He played in 52 games and started 32, but over the last 2 seasons he appeared in just 4 NFL games: 2 for the Saints and 2 for the Chiefs. His rookie season was his best, with 803 yards and 4 touchdowns. Injuries dragged his production down from there.
If the Lions are looking for a running back 3, Edwards-Helaire could theoretically fit that mold. He’s also someone running back Isaiah Pacheco can vouch for, having spent time with him in Kansas City. You have to consider that connection as a factor.
Hassan Haskins and Kylin James round out the group
Haskins is a familiar name to Lions fans. He played at the University of Michigan from 2018 to 2021, then the Tennessee Titans drafted him in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He spent 2 seasons there and 2 with the Chargers, playing in 44 NFL games with just 1 career start.
James spent last season with the St. Louis Battle Hawks in the UFL after a solid college career at UNLV. He doesn’t have significant NFL experience, but the Lions have found contributors through this pipeline before. That’s how they got Jabari Small. That’s how they got Jacob Sailors. Bringing in guys from the UFL has worked, and you never know who could emerge.
Blackshear’s spot is far from guaranteed
Here’s the thing: just because the Lions are signing Blackshear doesn’t mean he’s set in stone as the guy. As we’ve seen in prior training camps, Detroit will sign a player, cut him, and then sign another guy from that same workout group. There’s a real possibility Edwards-Helaire could join the Lions at some point. But right now, we’ll see what Blackshear can bring to Detroit.
Detroit Lions News