Full Breakdown
Kareem Hunt Visits Detroit Lions Amid Running-Back Depth Concerns
8/26/2026, 12:10:45 AM
Lions Assess Veteran Running Back
The Detroit Lions hosted free-agent running back Kareem Hunt on Tuesday, a meeting reported by ESPN reporter Adam Schefter. The visit comes as the Lions explore options to bolster a backfield that has been thinned by injuries.
Hunt’s Recent Production
According to NBC Sports, Hunt appeared in all 17 games for the Kansas City Chiefs last season, rushing for 611 yards on 163 carries and scoring eight touchdowns while adding 18 receptions for 143 yards and one receiving touchdown. USA Today notes the same season totals and adds that Hunt has played in 121 NFL games, starting 50, with a career total of 5,775 rushing yards, 55 rushing touchdowns, 2,209 receiving yards and 18 receiving touchdowns. His most productive year was his rookie campaign in 2017, when he led the league with 1,327 rushing yards and eight scores.
Lions’ Current Backfield Situation
Backup running back Isiah Pacheco is sidelined with an MCL sprain, though head coach Dan Campbell said earlier this month that Pacheco is expected to be ready by Week 1. The Lions’ primary ball-carrier is rookie sensation Jahmyr Gibbs, and the team is evaluating whether Hunt could provide a short-yardage complement or serve as a veteran bridge should Pacheco’s recovery be delayed.
Potential Role and Impact
If signed, Hunt would join a backfield that already includes Gibbs and could reunite with former Chiefs teammate Pacheco, who spent the 2024 and 2025 seasons with Kansas City. While Hunt is no longer the league-leading rusher he was in 2017, his recent usage as a “battering-ram” back suggests he could help Detroit sustain drives in goal-line and third-down situations. The Lions’ front office must weigh his production against the shadow of his 2018 release from the Chiefs after video surfaced on November 30, 2018, showing him pushing and kicking a woman—a controversy that still colors his public perception.
What’s Next
Detroit will continue its evaluation through the preseason, with a decision expected before the start of free-agency negotiations. The outcome will determine whether the Lions add a seasoned short-yardage specialist to complement their emerging talent pool.
