Circumstances led to a huge workload for D’Andre Swift in Week 10, but there’s no denying he is the Lions’ workhorse.
With Jamaal Williams (thigh) out for a second straight game, D’Andre Swift was in line for a bigger workload than usual in Week 10 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Add bad weather in Pittsburgh, quarterback Jared Goff playing with an oblique strain and rookie backup Jermar Jefferson suffering an ankle injury in the game, and that workload ramped up–to the tune of 33 carries for a career-high 130 yards.
Swift joined Derrick Henry as the only running backs in the NFL to get more than 30 carries in a game this season. His previous NFL-high for carries was 16 against Washington last year, and he had 20 carries in a game three times in college at Georgia.
Swift acknowledged he was sore after the game but would be fine, and on Wednesday head coach Dan Campbell had a joke when asked how many carries he’s comfortable giving the second-year back.
“Fifty?.” “No, it was good. It was good for him to get that. I don’t think you typically see or think that way with him, but it was good that he got a load.”
D’Andre Swift has taken the reigns as Lions workhorse
Campbell cited the broader circumstances that led to the heavy workload, but also pointed to Swift’s “hot hand.”
The growth that you saw in his vision and being able to read these plays, and then do what he does once he’s able to break a tackle or get in space, that’s all him,” said Campbell. “But, I don’t think you typically — that wouldn’t be the first thing I would think is he’s going to get 30 or 35 carries. We thought Jermar (Jefferson) was going to help, and those guys are going to share the load a little bit. And, it didn’t work out when Jermar went down. And then Swift’s hot. It’s hard to take out a hot hand.”
Swift was limited in Wednesday’s practice with a shoulder injury. He was limited by a groin injury during the week previously, so a new injury isn’t a great development even if it was a rest day. Williams returned to practice on a limited basis, while Jefferson was out.
With the confirmation Campbell took over play calling from offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn against the Steelers, a run-heavy approach was the easily expected end result. Ideally 39 rushing attempts would have been divided a little differently, and Swift would have had more of his typical role as a pass catcher–his six targets against Pittsburgh yielded three catches for five yards.
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Williams is averaging 12.4 touches per game in the seven games he has played this season (71 carries and 16 catches). So his possible return to action on Sunday against the Browns will help comfortably reduce Swift’s workload.
But even at that reduction, Swift should still be in line for 20-25 touches as the Lions’ lead back on a weekly basis. Going over 30 carries in a game will stand as a major outlier, but Swift is the team’s best offensive player. The more he can touch the ball without losing effectiveness the better, and he passed a workhorse test against the Steelers.