Detroit Lions running back D'Andre Swift has set some rather ambitious goals ahead of the 2022 season.
After finishing with 1,068 combined yards in 2021, Swift has his eyes set on becoming just the fourth player in NFL history to have 1,000 rushing and 1,000 receiving yards in a single season.
Lions RB D’Andre Swift said his goal this year is to rush for 1,000 yards and have 1,000 yards receiving. He said with Duce Staley coaching him he thinks he can reach both marks.
— Tim Twentyman (@ttwentyman) August 17, 2022
Swift credits assistant Duce Staley with the change in mentality, which he hopes will lead to a breakout campaign.
"I feel like if I'm healthy, the sky's the limit," Swift said, per The Athletic's Chris Burke. "I feel like Duce is going to take me to that level."
Staley, a former 10-year NFL veteran with the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers, was a bruising back and a notoriously tough runner. He wants to instill some of those same qualities into Swift but knows it won't be easy.
"Just staying healthy will definitely be a challenge," Staley said. "And, you know, injuries happen. One of the things Swift and I had conversations about is, you've got to be able to play through some of these as a running back. We all know there's a difference between being injured and hurt."
Health has been a concern for Swift. The 23-year-old missed four games last season after suffering an AC joint injury and three games in 2020 with a concussion.
Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey was the last player to join the 1,000-1,000 club in 2019. McCaffrey joined Roger Craig and Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk as the only players to accomplish the feat.
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