Player Bio
| HT/WT: 5-11, 216 lbs |
| Birthplace: Antioch, CA |
| Age: 25 |
| School: Utah |
| Experience: 3 |
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1:59Jahmyr Gibbs Embraces Bigger Workload
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1:18Bills Defense Slows Down Jahmyr Gibbs
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0:43Lions Schedule Gets Easier After Tough Start
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1:51Have the Lions Missed Their Super Bowl Window?
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1:32Breaking Down the Lions' Defensive Struggles
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1:34Josh Allen Has 5 Total TDs in Bills' Win Over Lions
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1:18Bills' Ed Oliver Suffers Hip Injury in Pregame Warmups
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1:12DJ Moore Suffers AC Joint Injury in Bills' Win vs. Lions
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1:31Dan Campbell's Role in Lions' Rough Start
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1:31Has the Detroit Lions Defense Gone Missing?
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1:34Why the Bills Don't Fear 13 Personnel
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1:37
Josh Allen, Bills Roll Over Lions on TNF
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1:21Week 2 Highlights: Lions at Bills
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1:10Bills Masterclass in Stadium Debut
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1:08Buffalo Bills' Multi-Threat Offense
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1:21Josh Allen's Dual-Threat Dominance
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8:44NFL Week 2 Fantasy Football Breakdown: Start or Sit
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1:04NFL Week 2 Bold Predictions: Lions vs. Bills
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10:12NFL Week 2 Bold Predictions
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1:56Bills Defense Makes Critical Stop With Game on the Line
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2026 Rushing
| STATS |
ATT
Rushing Attempts
|
YDS
Rushing Yards
|
AVG
Average Yards per Rush
|
TD
Rushing Touchdowns
|
LNG
Longest Rush
|
FL
Fumbles Lost
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Season | 3 | 14 | 4.7 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
Top Sione Vaki News
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Lions' Sione Vaki: Gets two touches in loss
Vaki recorded one carry for seven yards and caught his only target for 13 yards during Thursday's 41-31 loss at Buffalo.
Vaki was on the field for 11 of the Lions' 65 offensive snaps in Week 2, a similar workload to what he saw in Week 1. Barring an injury to starter Jahmyr Gibbs, Vaki seems unlikely to get the ball more than a couple times in any given game.
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Lions' Sione Vaki: Two carries in victory
Vaki turned two carries into seven yards while also reeling in his only target for 11 yards in Sunday's 31-30 overtime win against New Orleans.
Vaki operated as the Lions' No. 2 option running back in Week 1 behind starter Jahmyr Gibbs, but he didn't really have much of an impact over his 22 offensive snaps. The running back also logged 24 snaps on special teams in the victory. Gibbs will likely continue to dominate the touches in the backfield while Isiah Pacheco (back) is on injured reserve, leaving Vaki as an unappealing fantasy option.
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Lions' Sione Vaki: Committee approach at RB2
Coach Dan Campbell said Monday that neither Vaki nor Jacob Saylors is viewed as the Lions' strict RB2, and Detroit will use a committee approach behind Jahmyr Gibbs, Nolan Bianchi of The Detroit News reports.
Isiah Pacheco was signed over the offseason to serve as the Lions' RB2 behind Gibbs, but he injured his back and is opening the regular season on injured reserve. Pacheco remains without a firm timetable for return, so it's Vaki and Saylors who will see elevated roles on game days. The inexperienced duo has combined for nine career regular-season carries. Gibbs is expected to have a heavy 2026 workload due to David Montgomery being out of town and now with the Texans.
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Lions' Sione Vaki: Elevated role sans Pacheco
Vaki is in line to operate in an elevated offensive role to open the regular season after Isiah Pacheco (back) was placed on injured reserve Tuesday, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.
Vaki and Jacob Saylors are the two healthy backup running backs on the roster behind Jahmyr Gibbs following Pacheco's placement on IR. Vaki has mostly operated on special teams since entering the league in 2024 as a fourth-round pick, but he'll have the opportunity to rotate with Saylors behind Gibbs for as long as Pacheco is shelved.
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Lions' Sione Vaki: DNP while healthy
Vaki did not play in Saturday's preseason finale against the Colts, Nolan Bianchi of The Detroit News reports.
Vaki is not battling any injury. The running back was held out of Saturday's game because he has already proven himself throughout training camp. With Isiah Pacheco (back) still dealing with an injury, Vaki is in line to see reserve snaps behind Jahmyr Gibbs for the Lions' Week 1 game against the Saints.
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Lions' Sione Vaki: Doesn't play Saturday
Vaki (back) didn't play in Detroit's preseason loss to the Commanders on Saturday, Justin Rogers of DetroitFootball.net reports.
Vaki was dealing with back spasms, so the team held him out as a precaution. Once healthy again, the 25-year-old is expected to compete with Isiah Pacheco (knee) for the top backup spot behind Jahmyr Gibbs.
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Lions' Sione Vaki: Returns to practice
Vaki (nose) was a full participant in Sunday's practice, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Vaki broke his nose during last Monday's practice session. The fluke injury kept the special-teamer out for just under a week. The running back remains in contention for relief carries behind Jahmyr Gibbs and Isiah Pacheco (knee). With Pacheco out for most of the preseason due to a sprained MCL, Vaki could have a lot of opportunities to show his proficiency in Saturday's game against the Commanders.
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Lions' Sione Vaki: Dealing with broken nose
Vaki suffered a broken nose in Monday's practice, Justin Rogers of DetroitFootball.net reports.
Vaki was poked in the eye in the same practice and will now need some time to deal with the injuries. He's competing for a role in the backfield behind Jahmyr Gibbs (back) and Isiah Pacheco this summer. A 2024 fourth-round pick, Vaki has seven career regular-season carries for 18 empty yards.
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Lions' Sione Vaki: Leaves with eye injury
Vaki (eye) exited Monday's practice early, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.
Vaki was poked in the eye during the session. The 2024 fourth-round pick has a shot to compete for the No. 2 spot at running back in 2026, but the signing of Isiah Pacheco means Vaki will need every opportunity to make a case to serve as the primary backup to Jahmyr Gibbs (back).
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Lions' Sione Vaki: Could compete for No. 2 job
Vaki could have an opportunity to compete for the No. 2 spot at running back with the Lions in 2026.
Vaki was scarcely used during the 2025 campaign, logging just two offensive snaps over 11 games, turning his only carry into a four-yard gain. With primary backup David Montgomery being dealt to the Texans on Monday, Vaki currently sits as the most experienced reserve option behind starter Jahmyr Gibbs in Detroit's backfield. The Lions will almost certainly bring in competition for the 2024 fourth-rounder in free agency or the 2026 NFL Draft, but he will have his clearest path toward playing time ahead of his third season with the Lions.
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Lions' Sione Vaki: No offensive role in 2025
Vaki rushed the ball one time for four yards while also adding 39 kickoff-return yards during the 2025 regular season.
Vaki logged two total offensive snaps during his sophomore campaign with the Lions, operating as a distant depth option behind Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery in the backfield. The running back was an intriguing asset as a fourth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, but with both Gibbs and Montgomery under contract for next season, his upside will once again be limited greatly.
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Lions' Sione Vaki: Upgrades to full participation
Vaki (thumb) was a full participant in Thursday's practice.
Vaki upgraded to a full participant Thursday and was cleared of any injury designation after being limited with a thumb issue in Wednesday's session. The running back will likely continue in his role as a relief option behind starters Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery for Sunday's game against the Steelers.
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Lions' Sione Vaki: Limited Wednesday
Vaki (thumb) was limited in Wednesday's practice,
Seemingly on the injury report weekly due to various ailments this season, Vaki has appeared in eight games, playing just one offensive snap and another 136 on special teams. He carries next to no fantasy value.
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Lions' Sione Vaki: Suiting up Sunday
Vaki (thumb) is active for Sunday's game against the Rams.
Vaki has been dealing with a thumb issue throughout December but hasn't missed any time because of the injury. With Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery both healthy, Vaki probably won't get much (if any) work on offense against Los Angeles, though he consistently has served as a core special-teamer.
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Lions' Sione Vaki: Questionable for Sunday
Vaki (thumb) is questionable for Sunday's matchup against the Rams, Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com reports.
Vaki was limited in practice throughout the week with a thumb injury he suffered in Week 13 against the Packers. Given that he played through the injury in Week 14, the 24-year-old should have a good chance to play Sunday against the Rams, barring a setback. Should he sit out, Jacob Saylors will serve as the No. 3 running back behind Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery.
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