D’Andre Swift, by design, has hovered around the 20-touch mark most of the season.
Swift has battled a groin injury since the start of training camp, and the Detroit Lions, wary of overworking their No. 1 running back, have split their rushing workload between Swift and Jamaal Williams.
But with Williams inactive for today’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Swift could be in for a bigger workload than usual, with rookie seventh-round pick Jermar Jefferson playing as his backup.
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“If that’s what they see fit for me, I’m going to be ready for it,” Swift said this week.
The Lions (0-7) will be down two starters against the Eagles (2-5) as they look to snap an NFL-worst 11-game losing streak dating back to last season.
Williams, the Lions’ leading rusher with 312 yards on 71 carries, suffered a thigh injury in last week’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams and missed one day of practice this week. Rookie cornerback A.J. Parker also is out with a neck injury.
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Parker has been the Lions’ starting slot cornerback all season. The Lions, already down Jeff Okudah and Ifeatu Melifonwu at cornerback, likely will play some combination of safety Dean Marlowe and cornerbacks Bobby Price and Mark Gilbert in Parker’s absence.
Along with Williams and Parker, tight end Darren Fells, defensive end Jashon Cornell, receiver Geronimo Allison and linebacker Jessie Lemonier are inactive for the Lions.
Rookie Brock Wright, who was elevated from the practice squad to the gameday roster on Saturday, will play as the No. 2 tight end for the second straight week, and Da’Shawn Hand will make his season debut after being activated from injured reserve Saturday.
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.