Heading into the 2017 NFL season, the Detroit Lions (and their fans) hoped Ameer Abdullah would come back with a vengeance after missing most of the 2016 season with an injury.
Unfortunately, for all parties involved, Abdullah has been less than spectacular when it comes to rushing the football. In 12 games, he has carried the ball 151 times for just 513 yards (3.4 YPC) and three touchdowns.
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Prior to the Lions Week 14 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, NFL insider Ian Rapoport tweeted out that Abdullah was “not expected to play” but that the decision had more to do with his lack of production than it did his neck injury.
#Lions RB Ameer Abdullah (neck, questionable) is not expected to play today, source said, though it's more for play than injury reasons. Detroit is trying other players to improve the run game.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 10, 2017
Though Lions head coach Jim Caldwell insisted the reason for Abdullah not dressing for the game was injury related, and not a “benching,” Abdullah himself admitted after the Bucs game that it was a decision of the coaching staff and had nothing to do with his neck.
“That’s the coaches’ call,” Abdullah said. “That’s never in my hands. And if the coaches feel it’s in the best direction, then maybe I don’t (know). I’m always going to trust that. I’m going to fall behind the lead of this team. And you’ll definitely get a lot more answers if you ask Coach Caldwell these questions. But like I said, for me, I’m always going to follow his lead.”
Abdullah returned to the Lions lineup this past Saturday against the Chicago Bears but he was not very involved as he carried the ball just one time for eight yards.
On Tuesday, Abdullah admitted his current situation with the Lions has been frustrating.
“It’s definitely frustrating,” Abdullah told the Free Press on Monday. “It’s definitely something that I just want to take in and do my best to grow from it. That’s it.”
In Abdullah’s defense, there is not a running back on the Lions roster who has been much better. Theo Riddick is averaging just 3.6 yards per carry, Dwayne Washington has averaged 2.2 YPC, and Tion Green has managed just 3.9 YPC.
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It’s pretty tough for any running back to excel behind an offensive line that looks like what the Lions offensive line has looked like this season.
