The Detroit Lions continue to take care of their own in free agency. According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, the Lions are expected to re-sign running back Craig Reynolds to a one-year deal. Reynolds was a restricted free agent, but the Lions did not tender him. Instead, he became an unrestricted free agent at the start of the league year on Wednesday, but he isn’t going anywhere. At this point, contract numbers are not available.

Reynolds first joined the Lions late in the 2021 offseason, and immediately flashed in the preseason. He earned the nickname “Netflix,” because then running backs coach Duce Staley joked that he was at home watching TV when the Lions opted to sign him.

Since then, “Netflix” has taken off. He’s earned his spot on the Lions’ roster for four straight seasons, and while he’s mostly served as the third running back in the rotation, he’s been a very dependable player on special teams and has even produced when the Lions have incurred injuries at the position. In total, Reynolds has played 48 games for the Lions and rushed for 650 yards and a touchdown on 150 carries (4.3 YPC) in Detroit.

His path to the 53-man roster could be tougher than ever this year. Last season, the Lions drafted Sione Vaki in the fourth round with the intention of transitioning him from safety to running back. Vaki mostly stayed on special teams last year, but it’s reasonable to believe he could elevate his game to be the RB3 behind Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery.