Bo Scarbrough, who gave the Detroit Lions’ feeble running game a boost late last season, will start this season on injured reserve.
The Lions placed Scarbrough on IR Monday to make room on their 53-man roster for Adrian Peterson.
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Peterson is expected to a play a major part in the Lions’ backfield by committee after agreeing to a one-year contract that could total $2.3 million on Sunday.
Rookie D’Andre Swift and third-year pro Kerryon Johnson also remain in the mix at running back, and Ty Johnson will have a secondary role and should contribute on special teams.
Scarbrough ran for 377 yards and a touchdown in six games, making two starts, after signing as a street free agent in early November. He had a career-high 98 yards on 18 carries against Peterson’s old team, Washington, last season, and after that game asked Peterson for a his signed jersey.
“Bo, young fella, keep running that rock hard,” the inscription read. “I love to see that physical play! God bless you! Put God #1. Everything else will fall into place. A.D.”
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Scarbrough missed about two weeks of training camp this summer with an undisclosed injury. He returned to practice last week, but must miss a minimum of three games now that he’s on injured reserve.
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