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Earlier this week, Detroit Lions running back Jacob Saylors made the Lions’ 53-man roster. Projected on the depth chart behind Jahmyr Gibbs, Isiah Pacheco, and versatile Sione Vaki, Saylors’ primary role was the kickoff returner. But now, with Pacheco sidelined indefinitely due to a back issue and Vaki’s health questionable, Saylors could become the Lions’ RB2. Jacob Saylors vs. Sione Vaki: Which Back Becomes Detroit’s RB2 While Pacheco Recovers? A former UDFA who became one of the UFL’s most explosive and productive RBs, Saylors journey to NFL success is as remarkable as it is improbable. However, it also underscores the importance of the UFL as a developmental league for talented prospects who may have been overlooked for NFL opportunities. Saylors’ Early History A native of Jasper, TN, Saylors was a four-year starter at Marion County High School, recording over 4,100 yards with 74 touchdowns. He finished his senior year with 126 carries for 1,795 yards with 36 touchdowns. Attending East Tennessee State University, he became a dual threat as a running back and kick return specialist. In his junior year in 2021, Saylors was named Associated Press Second Team All-American and First Team Media All-SoCon, among multiple honors. He finished the season with 1,019 yards,10 rushing touchdowns, another 143 yards on 19 receptions with one touchdown, and recorded 25 kick returns for 750 yards. In April of 2023, Saylors signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent. But he was waived by Cincinnati in August during final roster cutdowns. Two months later, he signed with the Atlanta Falcons practice squad. However, after suffering an undisclosed injury just weeks later, he was waived with an injury settlement. Saylors Joins UFL St. Louis Battlehawks In the inaugural 2024 season, Saylors joined the UFL and became an immediate sensation. One of the league’s most thrilling and productive players, he recorded 491 rushing yards on 94 carries with five touchdowns and 152 receiving yards with three touchdowns. Named to the All-UFL Team, Saylors’ combined eight touchdowns and 54 points put him atop the leaderboard as the UFL’s number one scoring leader, not including quarterbacks or field goal kickers. Following his UFL success, Saylors again pursued opportunities in the NFL. spending time with the Cleveland Browns and the New York Giants during the 2024 preseason. However, neither team signed him to their 53-man roster, and he returned to the Battlehawks for a second season, determined to repeat his 2024 success. In Week 2 of the 2025 season, Saylors treated the hometown St. Louis crowd to a star-making performance. He scored three rushing touchdowns on 11 carries for 46 yards to give the Battlehawks a 26-9 victory over the visiting San Antonio Brahmas. He notched 25 yards on three receptions, including a two-point conversion, for a total of 71 yards from scrimmage. Saylors was once again named to the All-UFL team in 2025, recording 113 carries for 499 yards with five touchdowns, and 22 receptions for 245 yards. Saylors Signs with the Detroit Lions Following his second successful UFL season, Saylors was signed to the Lions’ practice squad on July 29, 2025. Despite an impressive pre-season performance, Saylors didn’t survive the final roster cutdown. However, he was signed to Detroit’s practice squad the following day. While it may have felt like a repeat of his previous NFL stints, this time it was different. Noting his special teams talent, the Detroit coaching staff designated Saylors as a return specialist. Making his debut in Week 1 of the 2025 season against the Green Bay Packers, Saylors produced four kickoff returns for 92 yards, with an average of 23 yards per return and a 25-yard return as his longest. It was impressive enough to earn him the job for the remainder of the season. As the Lions’ primary kickoff returner in 2025, Saylors appeared in 16 games and recorded 897 yards on 33 returns, ranking 7th overall in the NFL. In January of 2026, Saylors signed a one-year contract extension with Detroit. Sione Vaki, A Talented, Versatile Athlete with Unrealized Potential A 2024 fourth-round draft pick, Vaki was seen as a Swiss Army Knife type of player. He attended the University of Utah, where the versatile young talent played both offense and defense. In two years of college, the 5’11 213 lb. Vaki played both safety and running back. During those two years, he recorded 92 tackles, 12 TFLs, 2.0 sacks, two INTs, three PBUs, and forced one fumble. In addition, he rushed for 543 yards on 66 carries with four touchdowns, plus 16 receptions for 352 yards with three receiving touchdowns. In his two years with Detroit, Vaki has been used sparingly as a running back. That’s to be expected when Detroit had Gibbs and David Montgomery on the roster. Instead, Vaki played primarily on special teams. As a rookie, he appeared in 16 games where he recorded eight tackles, two kickoff returns for 55 yards, along with 6 carries for 14 yards and three receptions for 37 yards. Vaki was named to the 2024 PFWA All-Rookie Team (Special Teams). In his two years in Detroit, he’s contributed 18 tackles, a forced fumble, and 94 return yards on four returns with a longest return of 36-yards. The Lions 2026 Preseason During the 2026 preseason, Vaki’s contribution was again limited due to several injuries, including a broken nose, an injured eye, and a back issue that kept him off the field. Asked about Vaki during one of his early media sessions, Dan Campbell said that while the coaching staff wanted to see Vaki on the field and he wanted to play, the decision was made to hold him out. “We’ll get this to calm down. He’ll be ready to practice this week, I would anticipate. I think we’ll be okay there.” Saylors, The Lions’ Preseason Star During the 2026 preseason, with the team choosing to rest Jahmyr Gibbs and Vaki sidelined for much of the preseason, Saylors became the team’s RB1. He rushed for 187 yards on 23 carries, along with 40 yards on five receptions. Saylors outperformed every other NFL running back except for the Arizona Cardinals’ Evan Hull (189 yards on 38 carries). Campbell was asked about moving Saylors up the depth chart during the preseason. “Yeah, it’s been a great opportunity for him. I feel like he’s taken it another step here at the running back position. He’s done some really good things, man. He’s got some speed. He’s pretty electric. He really is. And he’s headsy, he’s smart… Saylors, I feel like’s having a good camp.” The Last Word After his impressive performance in the preseason, Saylors has emerged as a true NFL-worthy running back. Vaki is talented and productive on special teams, but has yet to prove himself as a running back. His frequent injury history is also a concern. How would he hold up week after week against the rigors of the NFL’s leading run defenses? Now, with Pacheco sidelined and Vaki’s frequent history of injuries a factor, Saylors may be Detroit’s best option as RB2 to open the season on September 13th against the New Orleans Saints. More NFL News Clever Detroit Lions Experiment Helped 1 Player On The Roster Bubble Lions’ Talented 6th-Round Draft Pick Shifting The Narrative Aaron Glenn News: Latest Report Reveals Job Status Heading Into 2026