Key facts
- Lions signed RB Raheem Blackshear on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, after a tryout
- WR Lawrence Keys waived with an injury designation to make roster room
- RB Sione Vaki out with a broken nose; RB Jahmyr Gibbs not practicing amid contract talks
- Blackshear played 41 games for Carolina (2022-2024) but saw no regular-season action in 2025
- Career Panthers numbers: 52 carries for 203 yards and 3 touchdowns, plus return duties
- Lions also worked out RBs Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Hassan Haskins and Kylin James the same day
The move
The Detroit Lions signed running back Raheem Blackshear on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, after he took part in a tryout with the team, according to Yahoo Sports and NBC Sports’ Pro Football Talk. To make room, Detroit waived wide receiver Lawrence Keys with an injury designation.
Why Detroit needed depth at running back
The signing comes as the Lions are thin at the position. Rookie or reserve back Sione Vaki is out with a broken nose, and lead back Jahmyr Gibbs has not been practicing while he waits on a new contract. That combination left Detroit needing a body at running back during training camp, prompting the club to work out several free agents before settling on Blackshear.
Blackshear’s background
Blackshear appeared in 41 games for the Carolina Panthers from 2022 through 2024, per NBC Sports, but did not play in any regular-season games last season. Over his time in Carolina he carried the ball 52 times for 203 yards and three touchdowns, and he also logged time as a return man on special teams.
Other players Detroit auditioned
Beyond Blackshear, the Lions also brought in running backs Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Hassan Haskins and Kylin James for workouts on the same day, according to NBC Sports, before choosing to sign Blackshear.
What it means going forward
With Gibbs sidelined from practice over contract talks and Vaki out due to his facial injury, Blackshear gives Detroit an experienced body to carry the workload in camp reps until either player is back on the field. The move is being described by both outlets simply as a depth signing rather than a long-term roster change, though it does mark Detroit choosing a player with NFL game experience with the Panthers over other tryout candidates, including former Michigan standout options who also worked out for the team.
Sources
Featured photo: NYGiants2024 via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)