Lions flea flicker fools Panthers for 31-yard touchdown

DETROIT — Even without wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs, the Detroit Lions offense jumped out to a fast start with a 42-yard touchdown from David Montgomery on their opening drive Sunday.

Montgomery’s score capped a three-play, 1:17-minute drive in which they took a 7-0 lead over the Carolina Panthers in Week 5.

Before Montgomery’s touchdown, Goff connected on a 23-yard pass to Kalif Raymond over the middle, then a 16-yard pass to veteran Marvin Jones Jr.

Montgomery’s rushing touchdown was the second-longest of his career. He previously scored on a 80-yarder in 2020 against the Houston Texans, which is his only other rushing touchdown longer than 30 yards.

Picking up right where he left off @MontgomerDavid 💪#CARvsDET | 📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/LHtAI2K532

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) October 8, 2023

Later in the half, Detroit ran a double lateral play that resulted in a 31-yard touchdown pass to rookie tight end Sam LaPorta.

On the play, quarterback Jared Goff pitched to Montgomery who tossed it to Jones, who’d circled back into the backfield. Jones then pitched back to Goff, who found LaPorta wide open down the sideline.

The touchdown, which came after a Jerry Jacobs interception, was LaPorta’s second of the day. He’d previously caught a 4-yard TD in the first quarter.

At Iowa, LaPorta never recorded a multi-reception touchdown game in 46 college contests, but was able to experience one in just his 5th career NFL game.

LET. BEN. COOK.#CARvsDET | 📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/V1lHuqYM0J

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) October 8, 2023