Ameer Abdullah officially has competition thanks to 2018 NFL Draft
Former Nebraska football star Ameer Abdullah has some competition for starting running back after the Lions took Kerryon Johnson in the draft.
Former Nebraska football star Ameer Abdullah might have some new competition for the starting running back spot on the Detroit Lions. The Lions spent their second-round pick in the 2018 NFL draft on former Auburn running back Kerryon Johnson.
While it was known that the Lions might take a running back, Abdullah can’t be thrilled the team is clearly feeling as though the position is a need. I have to wonder if his time in the Motor City might be all but over.
Abdullah was given every opportunity to win the starting job in Detroit over the last few years. In fact, he came into the last two seasons as the odds-on favorite to be the main ball carrier.
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Injuries derailed those efforts in 2016. Ineffectiveness did the same last year. Now Abdullah is going to have to find a way to beat out the rookie running back if he doesn’t want to be relegated to backup.
Kerryon Johnson certainly has enough talent. There were plenty of people who thought he might go in the first round.
The Auburn back slid a bit because there were some worries about his maturity. There is very little doubt he’s a dynamic runner.
Johnson ran for 1,381 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2017. He also caught 24 passes for 194 yards and two touchdowns. His ability to do some damage as a receiver had to be an added bonus for the Lions.
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For his part, Abdullah would likely admit he didn’t do much last year to show the Lions they didn’t need to draft a running back. The former Nebraska football star ran for 552 yards and four touchdowns while catching 25 passes for 162 yards. Abdullah averaged a career-low 3.3 yards per carry which lost him the starting job late in the 2017 season.