Sione

Vaki

Vaki and Lions RB3 Jacob Saylors (neck) are both questionable. Vaki did not practice on Friday, having apparently suffered a new injury. Saylors was limited all week. Jahmyr Gibbs should handle his normal, sizable workload.

It was the first time this year Vaki has seen more than six carries. The Lions went ultra run-heavy in this one to combat the Vikings’ vexing blitz scheme, which led to 35 carries on the day. Vaki should be stashed in most formats in cae Jahmyr Gibbs misses any time in the coming weeks. Vaki would be a potential 20-touch weekly option in such a scenario.

A DNP to open the week would normally be concerning, but Dan Campbell told reporters earlier today that he was going to get a lot of players “off their feet” during today’s practice. Gibbs appeared to injure his leg while awkwardly sliding to the ground on his final carry of Week 7. The fact that he isn’t listed with a leg injury on today’s report is also a good sign. Sione Vaki is the next man up if Gibbs can’t play this week, but we aren’t overly concerned quite yet. Tomorrow’s injury report will be more telling.

According to Rapoport, Pacheco “had surgery to remove a body that was pressing on a nerve in his back.” The 27-year-old back is looking at a 12-week recovery, but if all goes well, he could return for the final month of the season. If the Lions don’t add anybody to their backfield in the coming days/weeks, Sione Vaki and Jacob Saylors will continue to serve as the primary backups behind Jahmyr Gibbs.

It’s hard to imagine either Vaki or Saylors having meaningful fantasy value at this point in the season, but it sounds like both will be on the field while Isiah Pacheco (back) is sidelined for at least the first four games of the season. Judging by how Campbell sounded when discussing each player, it sounded like Saylors might be closer to the official RB2, but Campbell didn’t mince words when he said, “I see Vaki getting some reps, too.” Fantasy managers interested in taking a shot on a Lions running back not named Jahmyr Gibbs can consider both Saylors and Vaki as late-round dart throws until we see how their snap shares look in the coming weeks.

Vaki was “quietly putting together an excellent training camp last year when healthy” per Pouncy and the 2024 fourth-round pick could cut into Pacheco’s touches if Pacheco continues to not look like the 2022-2023 vintage. Vaki has just seven carries in his first two seasons in the league, but has been active 27 games as a core special teams contributor.

Vaki has missed each of the Lions’ first four games with a groin injury. He did not practice this week and does not appear to be close to returning.

Vaki got in three limited practices this week, but looks unlikely to be available. When healthy, he’s debatably the RB3 on the team, in a heat with Craig Reynolds.

Vaki is dealing with a hamstring issue and was ruled out on the final injury report. The Lions are fairly healthy heading into Week 1.

Vaki has been dealing with a hamstring injury for the better part of the preseason. The Lions’ fourth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Vaki serves as the RB4 and contributes on special teams. The 24-year-old running back isn’t expected to go on injured reserve, according to Birkett, but could miss Week 1 against the Packers.