Could the Detroit Lions bring back an old friend to help bolster and diversify the offensive backfield?
Former Lions RB Theo Riddick is going to be a free agent. The Denver Broncos indicated on Friday they will not try to bring him back after just one season in Denver, a season which Riddick missed with a shoulder injury.
Riddick was more of a receiving weapon than a runner in his six seasons in Detroit. He caught 285 passes in those years, working primarily as the No. 3 RB and third-down back. And Riddick was very good at it, arguably the best receiving back in the league.
Riddick is an accomplished back and has chemistry with Matthew Stafford, but a return to Detroit seems unlikely. He was dumped just as training camp began last season under new offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, who preferred the more familiar J.D. McKissic in that role. Riddick’s value as an actual runner is negligible; he averaged just 12 rushing yards per game and 3.6 yards per carry in his Lions career.
The Lions can find younger, cheaper, fresher legs than Riddick to play the more ground-oriented role in Bevell’s offense. Now if Riddick wants to get back to playing as a slot wide receiver — which was his primary role at Notre Dame under Brian Kelly — the Lions should have some interest. Detroit has just Danny Amendola on the depth chart as a quick, middle-of-field receiver.
