Detroit Lions RB Craig Reynolds' first NFL TD 'the moments that you live for'
David Montgomery topped 100 yards rushing for the second straight game Sunday, but Montgomery said his proudest moment of the Detroit Lions' 42-24 win over the Carolina Panthers was seeing Craig Reynolds score his first career touchdown in the fourth quarter.
"Those are the moments that you live for when you play this game," Montgomery said. "Craig works his ass off every time he comes in the building and for him to get the opportunity to go out, play ball and get his first (TD), that was the happiest moment of the game for me."
Reynolds, 27, has had a journeyman NFL career, bouncing from the Washington Commanders, to the Atlanta Falcons, to the Jacksonville Jaguars before finding a home with the Lions in 2020.
He entered Sunday with seven carries for 22 yards on the season, then had seven rushes for 52 yards while playing as Montgomery's top backup with rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs out with a hamstring injury and after fellow backup Zonovan Knight left with a shoulder injury.
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Reynolds carried six times on the Lions' seven-play touchdown drive in the fourth quarter, which he capped with a 5-yard touchdown run. He appeared ready to come out of the game after a 19-yard gain gave the Lions a first-and-goal at the Carolina 5, but Montgomery and Lions running backs coach Scottie Montgomery waved for him to stay on the field.
"It wasn’t even about me, rushing or scoring," said Montgomery, who had 19 carries for 109 yards to become the first Lions running back since Kevin Jones to top 100 yards rushing and score a touchdown in back-to-back games. "It was more so like, he got to get one and I’m so happy and I’m proud of him doing that. Hopefully there’s more to come from him."
Injury update
Lions coach Dan Campbell said "it’s tough to say" if defensive back Brian Branch will be able to return from his ankle injury for this week's game against the NFC South-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Branch hurt his ankle in the second half of the Lions' Week 4 win over the Green Bay Packers and missed the Carolina game.
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"I don’t know," Campbell said. "I really don’t know. Basically today it was like, look, it looked a little bit better but a couple of things here, there when he moves a certain way going this direction, it’s still (not ready). So it’s just tough. It’s how quick can he heal."
Left guard Jonah Jackson missed the final three snaps Sunday with a foot injury that will need monitoring this week, too, Campbell said. Kayode Awosika finished the game at left guard as the Lions used Halapoulivaati Vaitai only in protection on extra points in his return from a knee injury.
"Obviously, he’s a little tender today," Campbell said. "And those are always hard. You’re taped up and he was able to finish the game and then when you take the tape off, you get some swelling in there, so it’s just a matter of how much we can get all of that down. The swelling, the pain and what he can deal with."
Briefly
Cornerback Khalil Dorsey (medical) and defensive tackle Josh Paschal (knee) are eligible to return to practice from injured reserve this week, and Campbell said both are close to getting on the field. Dorsey could take the roster spot of Emmanuel Moseley, who will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL.
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions' Craig Reynolds' first TD 'the moments that you live for'
