D’Andre Swift had six offensive touches in his return from a shoulder injury last week, and the Detroit Lions running back said he expects a similarly light workload in his team’s season finale Sunday against the Green Bay Packers.
“I think it’ll probably be the same,” Swift said Thursday. “I’m not sure as far as what it’ll look like on a note sheet or a piece of paper, but just talking to the coaches throughout the week it’ll probably be the same process.”
Swift sprained his right shoulder in the Lions’ Thanksgiving loss to the Chicago Bears and missed four games before returning last week against the Seattle Seahawks.
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He played 36 of a possible 63 offensive snaps (57%), most of any Lions running back, but was limited in his role days after running backs coach Duce Staley said the Lions were going “full steam ahead” with Swift’s workload.
Swift averaged 18 touches in his first 11 games this season, and had at least 13 in every game prior to his injury.
Jamaal Williams led the Lions with 11 carries last week, and Craig Reynolds had four in a reserve role.
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“I knew I was going to be limited as far as the amount of carries and touches and things like that going into the game,” Swift said. “That’s kind of what the plan was. But just trying to get back out there and make an impact any way possible. We’re trying to finish strong, like I said, with this last game, trying to get a win.”
Swift said he needs rest but no surgery this offseason. And after setting career-highs in carries (144), rushing yards (587), receptions (58) and receiving yards (436), he said he plans to train at the same Weston, Florida, facility he worked out at last winter.
“Did a lot of running, a lot of conditioning, a lot of full-body strength (work),” Swift said. “We’re looking to do the same thing. Just working on detailing my craft as much as possible. But everything. Weights, running, conditioning, like I said. Routes. Everything, just detailing my work so I can come back ready for next year.”
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.