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Mikel Leshoure | Running Back

Team: Detroit Lions
Age / DOB:  (23) / 3/30/1990
Ht / Wt:  6'0' / 227
College: Illinois
Contract: view contract details
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Recent News

Lions coach Jim Schwartz is looking for more week-to-week consistency from Mikel Leshoure.
"(You) can’t be up one week, down another regardless of circumstances and things like that," Schwartz said. "It’s something he’s been working through this offseason and that’s something he’s going to have to put behind him as a player." Leshoure's reps were "managed" during the offseason program as he fought through a hamstring issue, but he was a full participant in last week's minicamp. Dogged by injuries since being the No. 57 overall pick of the 2011 draft, Leshoure's 2013 will be all about proving he can stay healthy. Jun 17 - 8:32 AM

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Mikel Leshoure (hamstring) took part in team drills at Tuesday's minicamp session.

Leshoure doesn't expect to be full-go before for camp, but this is a positive sign for his recovery. Leshoure is doubtful to take part in team drills for all three days of minicamp.
Jun 11 - 2:23 PM

Mikel Leshoure (hamstring) expects to be limited until training camp.

Leshoure returned to limited on practice on Monday, but won't be full-go for OTAs or minicamp. "(It's) offseason OTAs, it’s no time to be out here trying to rush and do things," Leshoure said. "I’m not saying I haven’t been trying to get back. That’s been the plan. But we’re just being a little bit smarter this year." On a micro scale, Leshoure's hamstring ailment isn't a concern, but on a macro scale, it's just his latest nagging leg injury. It's a pivotal season for the 2011 second-rounder's Lions future.
Jun 4 - 2:57 PM

Speaking about Mikel Leshoure's hamstring injury Wednesday, Lions coach Jim Schwartz said it's taking "maybe a little bit longer than we would've thought."

Leshoure has thus far been sidelined at OTAs. "It's something that's been nagging him," Schwartz said. "We'll get him back there soon. He's working hard, he's just not working on the field." Leshoure missed time in last year's camp with a hamstring injury, and experienced calf, groin and ankle issues during the regular season. Leshoure could tumble farther down the depth chart if he can't shake his habit of leg injuries.
May 29 - 7:31 PM

Mikel Leshoure (hamstring) remained absent from Lions OTAs on Wednesday

Leshoure has been doing individual work since OTAs opened, and there are no indications that the injury is serious, but it's unwanted news for a player who's had trouble staying healthy since being drafted.
May 29 - 1:33 PM

Mikel Leshoure is being held out of team drills at Lions OTAs with a hamstring injury.

"He's battling some stuff," coach Jim Schwartz said. "He can do some individual stuff but he's not ready to do any team work." There are no indications that the injury is serious, but it's worrisome news for a player who's had trouble staying healthy since being drafted. Leshoure can ill-afford more leg ailments after plodding through 2012. For now, Leshoure remains penciled in as the Lions' short-yardage "specialist" despite last season's anemic 3.71 yards per carry.
May 22 - 3:10 PM

Mikel Leshoure faced eight defenders in the box less often than any other running back last season.

Leshoure saw a stacked box just 6.05 percent of the time, yet still averaged a paltry 3.71 YPC. It's a scary number that reaffirms Leshoure's best role is as a short-yardage pounder. That's what he'll be this season as Reggie Bush was signed to jump-start the Lions' running game as the feature back.
May 9 - 11:12 AM

Coach Jim Schwartz said he expects Mikel Leshoure to "make a big jump" in 2013.

"He flashed enough highs that gives us optimism that he can (be explosive), but he also had enough inconsistency to say that he's not there yet," said Schwartz. "We still have high hopes for him." Leshoure's 2012 season was essentially his rookie year after missing all of 2011 with a torn Achilles'. The team had just three runs of 20-plus yards last season, and Leshoure didn't have any of them.
Feb 21 - 2:40 PM

The Lions haven't had a 1,000-yard rusher since 2004.

That season, Kevin Jones ran for 1,133 yards on a 6-10 team. New RBs coach Curtis Modkins, who oversaw the Bills' potent run game the past three years, believes he can get Detroit's out of the dumps. "(OC Scott Linehan) wants people to have to defend everything," Modkins said. "Whether we run it or pass it, I want a defense to have to defend the possibility of both and be afraid of both." The Lions have a pair of serviceable backs in Mikel Leshoure and Joique Bell, but have prioritized more of a home-run hitter in the draft or free agency.
Feb 12 - 10:52 PM

Mikel Leshoure rushed 15 times for 57 yards in Detroit's Week 17 loss to the Bears, adding three catches for an additional 20 yards.

It was a fitting end to the former second-round pick's first healthy NFL season. Although it wouldn't be wise to be too harsh on a player coming back from an explosion-sapping Achilles' injury, Leshoure proved to be little more than a grinding plodder in 2012. He'll finish with just 798 yards rushing on 215 carries (3.7 yards per carry), and only 214 receiving yards (15.3 per game). If not for his monopoly on goal-line touches — which resulted in nine rushing scores — Leshoure would have gone down as a mega-bust for fantasy purposes. He won't be a player you'll want to rely on as an RB2 in 2013.
Sun, Dec 30, 2012 04:40:00 PM

Mikel Leshoure's longest run this season is 16 yards.

Leshoure has sustained fantasy value by rushing for nine touchdowns in 13 games, but he's shown very little burst. The power back is managing a mere 3.70 YPC on his 200 carries compared to a 5.10 YPC mark for backup Joique Bell. The Lions have turned this backfield into a timeshare of late, with Bell netting 12.2 touches per game over the last four weeks.
Wed, Dec 26, 2012 10:51:00 AM

Mikel Leshoure rushed 15 times for 46 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's loss to the Falcons.

He added three catches for 20 yards. Leshoure fumbled after a Calvin Johnson 49-yard catch-and-run early in the first quarter, but was able to get in the end zone on a goal-line carry to put the Lions within a one-score game. He averaged just 3.1 yards-per-carry and ceded all passing-down snaps to Joique Bell. Leshoure hasn't topped 57 yards on the ground in five weeks and will be just a flex option for Week 17 against the Bears.
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 12:19:00 AM

Although he remained limited in Friday's practice, Mikel Leshoure (calf) is officially probable for Saturday's game against the Falcons.

Leshoure will be ready to roll against the Falcons, and proved in Week 15 he remains locked-in as the Lions' goal-line back. He's the No. 21 runner in Rotoworld's Week 16 ranks.
Fri, Dec 21, 2012 06:17:00 PM

Mikel Leshoure (calf) remained limited in Thursday's practice.

Leshoure rarely gets in full practices these days, but will be ready to go for Saturday night's tilt with the Falcons. He's the No. 21 back in Rotoworld's Week 16 ranks.
Thu, Dec 20, 2012 04:06:00 PM

Mikel Leshoure (calf) was limited in Wednesday's practice.

The Lions have made a habit of limiting Leshoure's practice reps since he made his season debut in Week 3, but he's yet to come close to missing a game. Although back-up Joique Bell has seen a recent uptick in snaps, Leshoure should operate as the Lions' primary chain-mover and goal-line back against the Falcons.
Wed, Dec 19, 2012 04:08:00 PM

Depth Charts

Skill Players
PosRoleName
QB1Matthew Stafford
2Shaun Hill
3Kellen Moore
4Thaddeus Lewis
RB1Reggie Bush
2Mikel Leshoure
3Joique Bell
4Theo Riddick
5Steven Miller
GLB1Mikel Leshoure
2Reggie Bush
3RB1Reggie Bush
2Joique Bell
FB1Montell Owens
2Shaun Chapas
WR11Calvin Johnson
2Nate Burleson
3Mike Thomas
4Kris Durham
5Brian Robiskie
WR21Ryan Broyles
2Corey Fuller
3Patrick Edwards
4Micheal Spurlock
5Matt Willis
WR31Nate Burleson
TE1Brandon Pettigrew
2Tony Scheffler
3Michael Williams
4Matt Veldman
5Joseph Fauria
K1David Akers
2Havard Rugland