Ameer Abdullah makes first Monday Night Football appearance
It’s safe to say, Nebraska fans know all about not using their running backs wisely. Well, former Husker great Ameer Abdullah is in the same boat during his rookie season with the Detroit Lions. In three games, Abdullah has shown the flashes that led him to becoming one of the best I-backs in Husker history. However, the first-year back has been part of a three-man rotation for the Lions backfield. It hasn’t helped the (0-3) Lions get a win, and they are on the road for the Monday Night Football contest with the Seattle Seahawks.
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Abdullah leads the Lions with 21 carries for 82 yards, and one touchdown. So far, he has one more rushing attempt than Joquie Bell. After scoring on his first NFL carry, Abdullah has been shut down by opposing defenses. More importantly, he’s been shut down by his own team.
The Lions haven’t given Abdullah the ball nearly enough in his first three games. Last week, he had a career high eight attempts, but only gained 23 yards. However, Abdullah did record his first touchdown reception in a Lions’ uniform. His seven catches rank fifth on the team in 2015.
Injuries may give Abdullah more chances to shine on Monday night. Bell has been ruled out for the contest, so there’s a chance Detroit features Ameer Abdullah a little bit more. If not, the Seahawks’ defense won’t have any reason to “Fear Ameer.”
The Lions will have fellow running back Theo Riddick available, and he does a lot of the same things as Abdullah. However, Riddick only has one rushing attempt this season. Still, he’s been a much greater factor in the passing game. Riddick has 15 catches for 144 yards on the season, so he’ll like stay as the dependable third down back.
The Lions have been dependent on quarterback Matthew Stafford too much. He’s already thrown the ball 128 times, while completing 64 percent of his passes. For the Lions, Stafford has turned the ball over way too much. He has five touchdowns and five interceptions in September. He might want to rely on Abdullah to lead the Lions to victory on Monday Night Football.