David Montgomery returns to Lions-Vikings game after leaving with knee injury

David Montgomery returned to Sunday’s game against the Vikings after suffering a first-quarter knee injury. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery returned to Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings after leaving in the first quarter with a knee injury.

Montgomery suffered the injury in the first quarter. He was tackled on a third-down run as Minnesota held a 10-0 lead. Montgomery was slow to get up after the hit and needed help from two trainers as he limped off the field.

The Lions initially listed Montgomery as questionable to return with a knee injury. He returned to the game in the second quarter.

Through five games, Montgomery had tallied 351 rushing yards and 94 receiving yards with six touchdowns. He’d scored a touchdown in each game this season prior Sunday’s game against the Vikings as part of one of football’s best running tandems alongside Jahmyr Gibbs.

The Lions are coming off a game in Week 6 in which Pro Bowl pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson suffered a fractured tibia and fibula. Hutchinson, who tallied an NFL-best 7.5 sacks through five games, underwent season-ending surgery last week.

Detroit entered Sunday’s NFC North showdown with the 5-0 Vikings at 4-1.