Star running back Jahmyr Gibbs was nowhere to be seen during the Detroit Lions' first practice at training camp, which did not go unnoticed by fans. His absence from practice further fueled the speculation that Gibbs was holding out for his contract extension.

However, Lions beat writer Mike Payton has indicated that there is no immediate confirmation that the absence was contract-related.

“As we know, Gibbs is looking for a new contract, and there have been some fears of a potential holdout,” wrote Mike Payton. “At this time, we do not know if that is a thing or not, but it was clear that he was not there on Wednesday. We’ll probably get more info on Thursday morning.”

In his July 29 AtoZ Sports report, Payton did point out that Atlanta Falcons star running back Bijan Robinson, who is also looking for a contract extension, did not show up for practice at the Falcons' training camp either.

Gibbs is not just one of the Lions’ best players but is also one of the best offensive players in the league. There is no doubt that the Lions will need Gibbs back at practice and contributing to his full capabilities if they want to make a push for a Super Bowl win.

After all, the running back holds the record for most touchdowns before the age of 23 with 49. He has also recorded a total of 3,829 rushing yards in the regular season and playoffs, as well as 1,610 receiving yards.

Per The Athletic, Gibbs is looking to get a deal that offers him upwards of $20 million per season. Looking at his production and consistency, many NFL personalities believe Gibbs deserves a contract extension that reflects that.

Gibbs’ former teammate, David Montgomery, definitely agrees.

David Montgomery wants to see the Lions pay what Gibbs wants

Having spent three years together with the Lions, the running backs Gibbs and Montgomery were beloved by fans, with the duo being fondly called 'Sonic and Knuckles'. Now, the ex-Lions player has made his opinion on the Gibbs situation clear.

“Give my baby anything he want!” wrote Montgomery. “He earned that s***! On mamas.”

Montgomery reacted to a post by One Pride Detroit reporting on Jon Jansen of 97.1’s report that Gibbs could potentially hold out if a contract wasn’t reached by camp on his personal Instagram story.

Despite being traded to the Houston Texans in the offseason, Montgomery is still looking out for his close friend Gibbs. However, it might be difficult for the Lions to agree to Montgomery’s suggestions immediately.

Gibbs’ projected market value on Spotrac has it at a three-year $60.48 million deal, which would be $20.16 million annually. This would make him the NFL’s second-highest-paid running back annually behind only Saquon Barkley of the Philadelphia Eagles.

However, the Lions could be hesitant to give him the contract without knowing whether he can carry a much higher offensive load, now that Montgomery is no longer with the team. 

Yet, with the Lions’ history of rewarding their young stars well and early, we could also see a contract extension being agreed to soon. It will definitely be interesting to see what happens during the rest of the offseason.

Do you do think Jahmmyr Gibbs is holding out? Let us know in the comments!

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Written by

Dhruv Vishnu Nair

Edited by

Arundhoti Palit