If you were watching the Lions stumble through the end of the 2025 season, you probably noticed something. Or maybe, more accurately, you noticed a lack of something. That explosive, "blink-and-you’ll-miss-him" speed from Jahmyr Gibbs wasn't quite hitting the same gear.
Lions fans have been sweating bullets.
The good news? The Jahmyr Gibbs injury update heading into this 2026 offseason is actually a lot more boring than the rumor mill suggests. And in the NFL, boring is beautiful.
The Reality of the Jahmyr Gibbs Injury Update
Basically, Gibbs is fine. He finished the season healthy. In fact, he didn't just finish; he put up 1,223 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground. He also caught 77 passes. That’s a massive workload for a guy some people thought was "too small" for the bell-cow role.
But there’s a reason people are still Googling his health status.
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During the late-December collapse against the Vikings—the game that effectively killed Detroit's playoff hopes—Gibbs looked human. He lost a fumble. He struggled to find lanes. He finished with just 41 rushing yards. When a superstar underperforms in a must-win game, everyone assumes there’s a hidden injury.
Honestly, it wasn't a specific injury. It was the "wall."
Breaking Down the 2025 Mileage
Gibbs played all 17 games in 2025. Think about that for a second. In an era where running backs are treated like disposable cameras, he took on 243 carries and nearly 80 catches. He surpassed David Montgomery as the clear RB1, logging 713 snaps compared to Monty’s 395.
The "injury" people are looking for is mostly just accumulated wear and tear. Dan Campbell admitted in late 2025 that they were "tilting" the reps toward Jahmyr more than they originally planned. That stuff adds up.
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Why We Keep Worrying About His Hamstrings
You can’t talk about a Jahmyr Gibbs injury update without mentioning the "H" word. Hamstrings.
- Rookie Year: Missed two games with a strain.
- 2024 Preseason: Scared everyone with a "leg injury" that turned out to be—you guessed it—a hamstring.
- 2025 Season: He actually stayed clean.
Because he’s a speed-reliant back, any slight tweak feels like a season-ending catastrophe. If his hamstring is even at 95%, he loses that elite twitch that makes him special. But as of January 2026, there are no structural issues. No surgeries on the calendar. No secret "clean-up" procedures.
He’s just tired.
What This Means for 2026
The Lions are at a crossroads. They just fired their offensive coordinator. David Montgomery might be on the trade block because Gibbs proved he could handle the volume.
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But can he handle it every year?
If the Lions trade Montgomery, Gibbs becomes the focal point of every defensive coordinator's game plan. Without a "thunder" to his "lightning," the injury risk naturally climbs. Expert analysts, including those from SI and local Detroit outlets, have noted that Gibbs' longevity depends on his ability to "slow down" occasionally—not just in terms of speed, but in terms of taking unnecessary hits in the hole.
Actionable Insights for the Offseason
If you're a fantasy manager or just a die-hard Lions fan, here is what you actually need to watch over the next few months:
- The New OC Hire: Who comes in? If it’s a coach who loves "heavy" personnel, Gibbs might get a breather. If it’s a wide-open spread guy, expect 90% snap counts.
- The Montgomery Trade: If David Montgomery is moved, Detroit must draft or sign a short-yardage specialist. If they don't, Gibbs' 2026 injury risk skyrockets.
- Locker Room Cleanout Comments: Gibbs told ESPN during locker room cleanouts that the team will "get back right." He didn't mention rehab. He didn't mention pain. He’s focused on the roster, not his body.
The "injury update" is that there is no injury. He’s a 23-year-old superstar who just finished his first full 17-game slate as a primary starter. He tied records held by Barry Sanders and Randy Moss for touchdown production in his first three years.
He’s not broken. He’s just getting started.
Keep an eye on the Lions' training staff reports when OTAs start in the spring, but for now, the medical tent is empty. Gibbs is heading into 2026 as the undisputed engine of the Detroit offense.