Detroit Lions pass on Matt Asiata, go young at running back

After taking a close-up look at one veteran running back at last week’s rookie minicamp, the Detroit Lions have decided for now to stick with their current backfield.

The Lions did not sign Matt Asiata after his three-day tryout with the team, though by all accounts his workout went well.

Asiata played the last five seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, where he played primarily as a backup to Adrian Peterson. He made 16 starts over that span, ran for 1,259 yards and scored 19 touchdowns.

Last year, Asiata led the Vikings with six rushing touchdowns and caught 32 passes for 263 yards.

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The Vikings finished last in the NFL in rushing last year (75.3 yards per game), while the Lions finished 30th (81.9 ypg).

“I think anybody knows who’s seen him work, he’s a good special teamer, he’s tough, he’s a very good pass protector,” Lions coach Jim Caldwell said before the start of rookie camp last week. “He carries the ball and he runs behind his pads. He’s always been a very, very effective player in this league.”

By passing on Asiata, the Lions are showing faith in a young backfield that struggled with injuries last year.

Starter Ameer Abdullah is returning from season-ending foot surgery, and top backup Theo Riddick still is making his way back from double wrist surgery. Zach Zenner, Dwayne Washington, Mike James, fullback Mike Burton and undrafted rookie Tion Green also on the roster.

“We have a pretty good group of guys,” Caldwell said last week. “We’ll see what happens, but I think overall, we’ve got some pretty good depth there.”

Note: Former Grand Valley State linebacker David Talley signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Green Bay Packers. Talley, of Southfield, had 285 career tackles, 20 tackles for loss and 8 1/2 sacks at GVSU. He earned All-GLIAC honors as a junior and senior. He appeared in 48 games during his career and was a key contributor in the Lakers’ 42-12 record that included two trips to the NCAA D-II semifinals and an undefeated regular season in 2016. Talley attended Orchard Lake St. Mary’s in his prep years.

Free Press sports writer Lee Snider contributed.

Contact Dave Birkett: dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.

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