The Detroit Lions suffered a blow to their roster on only the second day of 2018 minicamp, when rookie fullback and seventh-round pick Nick Bawden tore his ACL and was ruled out of his rookie season.
He played alongside first round running back Rashaad Penny at San Diego State, and his lead blocking played a huge role in making Penny one of the NCAA’s top rushing threats. With Detroit set to focus on the rushing attack in 2018—with Frank Ragnow and Kerryon Johnson being the team’s first two selections in the draft—Bawden was set to have a huge role last season.