Could former Detroit Lions RB Theo Riddick make a return to the Motor City?
In a piece published on Lions Wire, Jeff Risdon, who I have a great deal of respect for, listed 8 available free agents who can still help the Lions in 2020. A few of those players just so happen to be on my own shortlist of free agents Bob Quinn should strongly consider, but the one who really caught my attention was Theo Riddick.
Risdon mentions that Riddick would be more of a “break glass in case of emergency” type option for the Lions in 2020.
Lions fans know Riddick very well. He played for the team from 2013-2018 as a running back and pass catcher out of the backfield.
Riddick didn’t play in 2019 after suffering a shoulder injury in preseason while playing for the Broncos. The Lions cut him very early in training camp when it was clear they wanted to move in a different direction. That new direction, J.D. McKissic, is no longer in Detroit, and the role of third-down/receiving RB is still up for grabs.
If the Lions ascertain that rookie Jason Huntley isn’t ready, or there’s an injury to Ty Johnson or Kerryon Johnson early on, Riddick is a familiar voice at the other end of the phone line. He’s more of a “break glass in case of emergency” option for Detroit once the season begins. Last year that glass needed breaking a lot at RB…
Riddick, who was originally selected by the Lions in the 6th round of the 2013 NFL Draft, spent six seasons in Detroit as a running back who had nearly as many receptions (285) as he had rush attempts (288). Just after the start of the 2019 training camp, the Lions released Riddick. A week later, he signed with the Denver Broncos but just before the regular season started, Theo was placed on IR with a shoulder injury.
Nation, would you like to see Theo Riddick get another shot with the Lions?
Personally, I am more than happy with the Lions current running back stable in terms of catching the football out of the backfield and I would be stunned if Quinn signed Riddick prior to the 2020 season. That being said, if a player like Jason Huntley or Ty Johnson were to suffer an injury, or just fizzle out altogether as Risdon suggests, I would be perfectly fine with “breaking the glass.”
