When the 2021 NFL season begins, the Detroit Lions roster (and coaching staff) will look quite a bit different than it did a year ago.
But one thing that will remain the same is running back D’Andre Swift, who will be looking to take a step forward after a solid (yet injury-plagued) rookie campaign.
If Swift can stay healthy for all 17 games of the upcoming season, expect for him to have a breakout type year that will propel him into the top-tier of NFL running backs.
In a piece recently published by ESPN, Eric Woodyard gave his bold prediction for the Detroit Lions and it just so happened to focus on Swift. In fact, Woodyard believes Swift will be the first Lions RB to surpass 1,000 yards in a season since Reggie Bush did so in 2013.
Swift will be the one to break the curse and rush for 1,000 yards this season. If he’s able to stay healthy, he should get more touches behind a strong offensive line with the NFL expanding the regular season to 17 games. The Lions haven’t had a 1,000-yard rusher since Reggie Bush in 2013, the longest active drought in the NFL. Detroit’s run game thrived during Barry Sanders’ time with the team, as it led the NFL in 1,000-yard rushing seasons and 100-yard rushing games by individual players from 1989-98. Since 1998, they’ve been arguably the worst running team in the league, but Swift could change that.
Now, to be fair, rushing for 1,000 yards in a season means getting just over 58.8 yards per game, but when you consider that Swift will also be a big part of the Lions passing game, this seams like a solid bold prediction.
