by Jamey Eisenberg | Senior Fantasy Writer (6/17/2013) The Detroit Free Press reports that Lions coach Jim Schwartz wants to see more consistency from running back Mikel Leshoure. Injuries -- he suffered a torn Achilles as a rookie and dealt with groin and hamstring problems last year -- have caused Leshoure to struggle from week to week with his performance. “You know, I think at times last year we saw the Leshoure that we drafted and then we were too inconsistent in other games and I think that’s probably the biggest thing,” Schwartz said. “I think his biggest room for improvement is consistency from week to week, whether it’s physical or else wise.”
Leshoure part of team drills
by Dave Richard | Senior Fantasy Writer (6/11/2013) The Lions' official team website reports that running back Mikel Leshoure was a part of the team drills on Tuesday, the first of three days of minicamp. A hamstring injury had limited Leshoure previously.
Leshoure should be ready for camp
by Jamey Eisenberg | Senior Fantasy Writer (6/4/2013) The Detroit Free Press reports that Lions running back Mikel Leshoure returned to practice Monday for the first time during offseason workouts and said that he’s trying to manage his nagging hamstring injury in an effort to be at 100 percent for training camp. “During the season, it never really got a chance to rest and get it exactly where I wanted it to be at,” Leshoure. “But like I said, it’s offseason OTAs, it’s no time to be out here trying to rush and do things. 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, and I feel good today. Today was a good day for me.”
Leshoure has hamstring injury
by Jamey Eisenberg | Senior Fantasy Writer (5/29/2013) Lions running back Mikel Leshoure missed Wednesday's OTA workout because of a hamstring injury. He was also out the previous week of workouts. "It’s something that’s been nagging him," coach Jim Schwartz said. "He’s got a little bit of a hamstring and we’ll get him back as soon as we can. This time of the year we don’t want to push anybody, we don’t want to push him onto the field and then get set back even further. It’s taken maybe a little bit longer than we would've thought, but that’s why we don’t put time tables on those kind of things. We’ll get him back there soon. He’s working hard, he’s just not working on the field."
Leshoure 'battling some stuff'
by Jamey Eisenberg | Senior Fantasy Writer (5/22/2013) The unlucky offseason for Lions running back Mikel Leshoure continued during OTA workouts Wednesday. First, the team signed running back Reggie Bush, which dropped Leshoure on the depth chart. Then on Wednesday, Leshoure was not participating in team drills because of an injury, according to the Detroit News. "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."
Leshoure 'getting back to where I used to be'
by Dave Richard | Senior Fantasy Writer (5/14/2013) Lions running back Mikel Leshoure says he's rounding back into his old form and expects a big jump in his abilities in 2013. "I do feel a little bit more burst now," he told the official team website. "I do feel like I’m getting stronger. The calf muscles are getting stronger and I’m just kind of getting back to where I used to be."
Big jump expected for Leshoure in '13
by Dave Richard | Senior Fantasy Writer (2/21/2013) Lions head coach Jim Schwartz expects a "big jump" from running back Mikel Leshoure this season. Speaking at the NFL combine Thursday, Schwartz wished his run game would create more explosive plays after creating three 20-plus-yard runs total in 2012. Leshoure did not have any of them (Joique Bell had all three). But Schwartz remains optimistic that Leshoure is the Lions' best back. "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," he said. "We still have high hopes for him and expect him to make a big jump ... It's a common thing of players jumping from year one to two and he's a little bit in that boat. It's not necessarily year one to two for him, but playing wise it is."
Sanders fond of Leshoure
by Jamey Eisenberg | Senior Fantasy Writer (2/5/2013) The Detroit Free-Press reports that former Lions legend and Hall-of-Famer Barry Sanders said he’s a fan of Mikel Leshoure. “He’s young, he’s physical, I thought he showed a lot of promise,” Sanders said. “I don’t know what their sort of plan is for him as far as the future, how much more responsibility they see. But I think for a young running back, I certainly see a big role that he’s going to play in the offense and maybe even use him more in the passing game.” A second-round pick out of Illinois in 2011, Leshoure led the Lions with 798 yards rushing and nine touchdowns last year in what was essentially his rookie season. He missed all of 2011 after tearing his Achilles tendon in training camp and most of the preseason last year with a hamstring injury. But Leshoure averaged just 3.7 yards a carry while splitting duties with Joique Bell for 14 games – he was suspended the first two weeks of the season – and the Lions are looking for a speed option to diversify their backfield and replace Jahvid Best.
