Lions add Raheem Blackshear after tryout, while Jahmyr Gibbs remains sidelined from practice

The Detroit Lions added running back Raheem Blackshear to their roster after a tryout, according to the NFL’s daily transaction report surfaced by Yahoo Sports on Monday. The move arrives as the team waits for star running back Jahmyr Gibbs to get back on the practice field.

The Lions’ transaction also included a procedural roster change at wide receiver. Yahoo Sports reported that Lawrence Keys was waived with an injury designation, a move that indicates the team is clearing a roster spot while managing the status of a player dealing with an injury.

For Detroit, the timing matters because training camp depth in the run game often gets tested when a key back is not practicing. Blackshear’s signing gives the Lions another option for reps during practices and preseason-style work, particularly on early-down snaps and special teams opportunities, where teams can look for role clarity in a short window.

Gibbs, one of the league’s more explosive playmakers, has been a central part of the Lions’ offensive identity when he’s available. With Detroit “waiting” for him to practice, the team’s immediate challenge is not only maintaining efficiency, but also keeping the backfield rotation sharp so the offense does not need to shift its approach if Gibbs is limited.

The injury-designated waiver involving Keys underscores how roster construction works during camp. Moves of this type are common when teams need to manage health-related availability and maintain flexibility under the league’s roster rules. It also reflects the Lions’ ongoing evaluation process, where wide receiver depth and ability to contribute on multiple looks can determine how long a player sticks around.

Blackshear’s path with the Lions will likely depend on how quickly he can translate camp reps into dependable production, especially in pass protection and route-level decision-making if he earns opportunities in the receiving game. For Keys, the waiver with injury designation adds an additional layer of uncertainty, since his next destination would be tied to how he is cleared and whether another club chooses to pick him up under the injury-related roster framework.

What to watch next for Detroit is straightforward: whether Gibbs returns to full participation soon, and whether Blackshear can establish himself quickly enough to become more than a camp placeholder. As the Lions continue shaping the 53-man picture, these kinds of transaction-driven adjustments can reveal which roles the team values most while injuries and practice availability fluctuate.