Detroit Lions picked up their fifth-year option on running back Jahmyr Gibbs’ contract, meaning that his contract expires after the 2027 season.

Now, former Lions offensive lineman and current 97.1 The Ticket host Jon Jansen thinks that there is a possibility of Gibbs not appearing for the Lions’ training camp.

"There is a chance that Jahmyr Gibbs is looking at running back deals, the contracts that the Lions have handed out, when they've handed them out, and says, 'I'm next in line, and if I don't get my contract before camp, I may be a hold-in, or a hold-out,'" said Jansen.

Jansen explained further that he understood why Gibbs would want to resign immediately. He could understand Gibbs’ perspective of wanting to be paid as much as his competition, if not more. 

"However you want to talk about not practicing, until he gets a new deal," Jon Jansen explained on 97.1 The Ticket.

Jansen also explained how he understood why the Lions would be hesitant to extend him right away. However, the Lions have usually signed extensions early.

The most recent example is the re-signing of off-ball linebacker Jack Campbell to a four-year $81 million deal.

However, with huge contracts already being tied to their other stars, such as Amon-Ra St. Brown, Penei Sewell, Alim McNeil, Kerby Joseph, and Aidan Hutchinson, it will be interesting to see how the Lions approach Gibbs’ situation. 

Meanwhile, one NFL analyst has given a very bold prediction for Gibbs next season.

NFL analyst predicts Gibbs to break a major record next season

Within his first three years in the league, Gibbs has become one of the most explosive players in the NFL.

This has already helped him break multiple records, the biggest one being the record for most touchdowns before the age of 24 with 49, beating Hall of Famer Barry Sanders’ record of 47. Now, one NFL analyst predicts Gibbs to break another one of Sanders’ records.

Quincy Milton III of RotoBaller, on July 14, gave a bold prediction for all NFC teams. For the Lions, he predicted Gibbs to break Barry Sanders’ franchise single-season rushing record of 2,053 rushing yards.

This record from 1997 helped Sanders win MVP and become just the third person to carry for over 2,000 rushing yards in a season.

“Given how good Sanders was in his prime, Gibbs would have to rush for the fourth-most single-season rushing yards of all time,” wrote Milton. “You just don't see that kind of production every day. However, what is really stopping Gibbs from doing so? David Montgomery was shipped off to Houston this offseason.”

Milton also believes that with the new offensive coordinator, Drew Petzing, who had coordinated an excellent running game in Arizona, it’s the perfect situation for Gibbs.

If Gibbs were to record a season with over 2,000 rushing yards, he would be just the 10th running back to do so and the third since the 2020 season, following Derrick Henry’s 2020 season and Saquon Barkley’s 2024 season.

Do you think Gibbs can break Sanders’ record? Let us know in the comments! 

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Written by

Dhruv Vishnu Nair

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore