The Facts: Abdullah has been fully cleared by doctors to return to the field, according to a source, after missing almost all of the 2016 season with a foot injury.
Diehards Line:Abdullah was the Lions’ starting running back at the beginning of the season and had 18 carries for 101 yards and five catches for 57 yards before tearing a ligament in his left foot against Tennessee in Week 2. The injury required surgery by Dr. Robert Anderson in Charlotte and kept him out for the year. He said at the end of the season he believes he can be a high-level running back in the NFL as he enters his third season in 2017. It sounds like he'll get an opportunity to prove the start of last season was no fluke. Abdullah averaged 5.61 yards per carry before his injury. In his career, Abdullah has started 11 games and had 161 carries for 698 yards and two touchdowns. He also has 30 career catches for 240 yards. As ESPN.com's Michael Rothstein notes, the Lions have said they plan on improving the running game this offseason, and Abdullah should be a part of that.