Lions' David Montgomery Details 'Strenuous' Knee Injury Rehab Before NFL Playoffs

David Montgomery is on pace to play on Saturday when the Detroit Lions take on the Washington Commanders in the NFC Divisional Round, returning from an MCL injury that cost him the final three games of the regular season.

The veteran running back managed to avoid surgery to repair the injury, though the alternative path was a physically taxing rehabilitation program that Montgomery described as "pretty strenuous," per ESPN's Eric Woodyard.

At the time of the injury, the expectation was that Montgomery would require surgery, but he received three different medical opinions before choosing rehab.

"I think the speculation that I was getting surgery or that was kind of the end-all, be-all. Nobody really ever knew," he added. "So when it got put out, I didn't know that I was getting surgery. So the media told me, so it was news to me, but I'm always pretty confident in who I am and how I prepare."

His return is excellent news for the Lions. Montgomery has been the thunder to Jahmyr Gibbs' lighting in Detroit's backfield, rushing for 775 yards and 12 touchdowns this season. In two seasons with the team, he's rushed for 1,790 yards in 28 games and found the end zone 25 times.

While the Lions have dealt with a rash of injuries, especially on the defensive side of the ball, the team will have its most dangerous offensive playmakers available against Washington.

"It'll mean a lot," Campbell said of Montgomery's return. "[He's] a big part of us. He's a huge part of us, and to me, he's a bell cow. He's somebody that is a tone-setter. He's a catalyst, so there's a place for him. There's a place for him here, so there'll be a place for him in this game. So it's going to be good to get him back."

Good for Detroit, at least. Maybe not so much for the Commanders.