By Michael Stets
ALLEN PARK–Last season it was Lions running back Ameer Abdullah who donned the red no-contact jersey at the start of training camp while recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. This season, after a double-wrist surgery in March, Theo Riddick is the Detroit backfield’s man in red.
Abdullah, who knows exactly what Riddick is experiencing since he went through it last season, was asked what advice he might have for his teammate.
“Just be patient,” Abdullah said after practice earlier in the week. “Just take this time to be the best vocal leader that you can because days when it’s going to be even hotter that this, guys just need that little extra vocal support sometimes to pull through and get better on that next rep. And if Theo can do that every single time, when he comes back and brings his physical attributes, he will be also be a better leader.”
Not being in the red jersey this year gives Abdullah the “Opportunity just to get better in all phases every single day,” he said. Whereas in the red jersey, you are a bit limited. He explained some of the drawbacks of wearing the no-contact jersey.
“Sometimes in the red jersey you are in, you are out, you get the opportunities to do things and then you don’t,” Abdullah explained. “And that’s kind of hard as a player when you are–as a running back–asked to do so much. You’are asked to block. You’re asked to, obviously, run the ball, catch the ball. I’m allowed to do that now and it’s allowed me to really get acclimated with this line. That is really important.”
Riddick will have to wait to get cleared for full contact, which should happen relatively soon, so he can join Abdullah, who has looked great thus far after the first few days of practice. And if the Lions are to have any success on the ground this season, they need both of them to stay healthy for 16 games.
Last year only provided a small sampling size, but in the opening game against the Indianapolis Colts, Abdullah and Riddick looked like a formidable duo, combining for 120 receiving yards, 108 rushing yards and three touchdowns. But that one-two punch came to an abrupt halt in the second quarter of the Lions Week 2 matchup against the Tennessee Titans. That’s when Abdullah suffered a foot injury, which ended his season. Riddick inherited the lead running back role in his absence, but his season was also cut short due to injury after playing in just 10 games. The former sixth-round pick out of Notre Dame finished 2016 with 56 receptions and 357 yards on the ground.
When healthy, though, Riddick is one of the best pass-catching running backs in the league, as proven by his 80-catch season in 2015. Abdullah is certainly familiar with Riddick’s skill set and the versatility he brings to the Lions’ offense. However, according to Abdullah, Riddick isn’t getting his proper due around the NFL.
“That’s my guy,” Abdullah said, smiling. “I think Theo is one of the most underrated players in this league. Not just running back. One of the most underrated players in the league. I’m sure he is going to show it again this year.”
After a rookie campaign in 2015 where he ran for only 597 yards and his second season lost to injury, Abdullah has plenty left to prove heading into 2017. And so far he’s looking great. But for him, he’s not setting any lofty goals as of now. He’s just taking it one day and one practice at a time.
“Coming from an injury it’s day by day. You never know how you are going to feel the next day. For me, I just set goals day by day. Even though I’m 100 percent now, I still do that because that was the most beneficial thing for me.”