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Gibbs: I don't care if people think Lions reached for me

Michael Hickey / Getty Images Sport / Getty

All the criticism that the Detroit Lions received for selecting Jahmyr Gibbs early in this year's draft doesn't seem to bother the first-round running back.

"Everybody is entitled to their opinion. I really don't care," Gibbs said Saturday, according to ESPN's Eric Woodyard.

Detroit made Gibbs the second running back off the board by selecting him 12th overall in perhaps the most shocking pick of the first round. Gibbs entered the draft as one of the top players at his position, but Bijan Robinson was widely considered the only surefire Round 1 rusher. Gibbs said on draft night that he was "shocked" he went so early.

The Atlanta Falcons selected Robinson eighth overall, making him and Gibbs the first pair of running backs to be drafted in the top 12 since Christian McCaffrey and Leonard Fournette in 2017.

Gibbs understands there will be comparisons moving forward but spoke highly of his relationship with Robinson.

"Me and Bijan, we're cool. We get along good. That's my boy," Gibbs said.

The Lions held Gibbs out of rookie minicamp Saturday after he tweaked his ankle Friday, but the injury doesn't scare the coaching staff.

"He had a little tweak, but no big issue, he'll be fine," Lions assistant general manager Ray Agnew said. "We're just being safe with him."

In Detroit, Gibbs headlines a depth chart that also features David Montgomery, who signed a three-year contract with the Lions in free agency. The Lions traded D'Andre Swift to the Philadelphia Eagles just two days after drafting Gibbs.

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