Coming off back-to-back seasons as a top-five scoring and yardage offense, there aren’t many obvious ways for the Detroit Lions’ offense to be better. And if we talk about that kind of thing, paths to another level in certain margins, one player tends to get that focus.

Jahmyr Gibbs had a very nice rookie season, topping 1,200 yards from scrimmage with 11 total touchdowns. He’s in line for a bigger workload this year, and there’s definitely space for him to evolve as a pass catcher.

Gibbs is known to be working to expand what he can do in the passing game. That would have obviously carried into this week’s joint practices against the New York Giants, with Gibbs and other Lions’ starters not in line for much (if any) action in the preseason opener on Thursday night.

Jahmyr Gibbs touted as big difference maker for Lions’ offense

Conor Orr of Sports Illustrated was on the ground for Tuesday’s joint practice. He touted Gibbs as a developing three-down back with , as Jori Epstein of Yahoo! Sports also did when she was at Lions’ camp last week.

Orr went into fairly vivid detail.

“The Lions and Gibbs have made no secret about how instrumental he is to the passing game this year, but it was stunning to see him leak out of the backfield to the left and watch the entirety of the Giants defense shift toward the running back. Remember, Sam LaPorta, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams are on the field, too. Last year, Gibbs had one of the highest Net Yards over Average ratings on the Lions’ offense, according to NFLGSIS statistics…..Gibbs played a majority on first down last year, with 103 of his 182 rushing attempts occurring on first down. Gibbs had just 11 catches and 23 carries on third down. This is a long way of saying that his statistical ceiling is immense.”

Gibbs’ ability to pass protect will be a underrated portion of his evolution into a three-down back, and reaching his full ceiling. Orr finished his point about Gibbs with that in mind.

“With more pass-protection reps, allowing him to be entrusted with more of a three-down role, Gibbs adds an irreplaceable dynamic.”

In a talent-laden group of Lions’ skill position players, Gibbs may have the highest ceiling-and the clearest path to reaching it.