NFL Draft 2026: RB medical report - Jeremiyah Love, Noah Whittington, Robert Henry
An elite prospect along with 2 potential late rounders for the Lions to consider
The free agent signing of Isiah Pacheco to just a 1-year deal means the Lions are still in the market for a long-term partner to Jahmyr Gibbs. Let’s take a look at three RB options who are viable possibilities but for different reasons.
Two of these prospects are expected to go in the mid-to-late rounds which is where the Lions likely will be looking for a RB. The 3rd player is one of the elite prospects in the entire draft, and is currently ranked #2 overall by Daniel Jeremiah.
If an elite RB slips to #17 for “positional value” reasons, could the Lions be tempted? The running game is absolutely a core tenet of this team so it’s not out of the question.
For the full NFL 2026 draft prospect medical analysis page, click here.
Medical concern level ranges from 0 (no concern) to 5 (might be worth the risk if the reward is high) to 10 (take him off your board, Brad).
(Ages in parentheses are at start of 2026 season and are factored into the concern level. Injury info and ages based on available public information and are unverified - subject to update. Games played data courtesy of sports-reference.com.)
Quick summary of medical concern levels
Jeremiyah Love, RB (21): minor knee, rib - 1/10
Noah Whittington, RB (24): turf toe, ACL, age - 7/10
Robert Henry, RB (24): undisclosed, ankle, age - 3/10
Jeremiyah Love, RB (21) - Notre Dame
Projected early round 1. #2 on Daniel Jeremiah board March 5. Ran 4.36 40-yard dash at combine. Measured 6’ 0”, 212 lb.
Concern level 1/10
2025: 12/12 games. Possible rib injury in final game, but able to return.
2024: 16/16 games. Knee injury in Game 12. Wore right knee brace in playoffs.
2023: 13/13 games
Love displayed perfect availability in his three years of college. The recent, possible rib injury is of no concern. The knee from 2024 is worth investigation though. Hopefully (and most likely), it’s just a simple ligament sprain and not a cartilage issue.
At the combine, the only athletic testing Love did was the 40, but that sub-4.4 time cemented him as an elite prospect. His young age is also a huge positive, especially at the RB position.
Love finished his career with 433 carries for 2882 yards with a whopping 6.7 Y/A. His young age, low medical concern level, and elite athleticism should all be tempting for the Lions if he somehow falls to #17.
Noah Whittington, RB (24) - Oregon
Projected round 5-7. Measured 5’ 8”, 205 lb at combine.
Concern level 7/10
2025: 13/15 games. Missed 2 games for undisclosed reason. Turf toe injury January 1, 2026 and played through.
2024: 14/14 games
2023: 4 games. ACL tear ended season.
2022: 13/13 games
2021 (Western Kentucky): 12/14 games
2020: 12/12 games
Whittington attended the combine but did not test due possibly to his lingering toe injury. At his Oregon pro day on March 17, he was still limited and did not appear to have done any workouts. The lack of testing is of major concern.
The ACL is not a concern two years later. But it will be important to determine if there was any cartilage damage found at the time.
Age and mileage are significant concerns, especially at the RB position.
Over his six years of college, he accumulated 523 carries for 2950 yards (5.6 Y/A).
Robert Henry, RB (24) - UTSA
Projected round 5-7. Ran 4.52 40-yard dash at combine. Measured 5’9”, 196 lb.
Concern level 3/10
2025: 11/13 games. Undisclosed injury, missed 1 game. May have opted out of bowl.
2024: 11/13 games. “Two ankle sprains in same ankle…high ankle and lateral ankle sprain”, missed final 2 games.
2023: 13/13 games
2021-2022: JUCO Jones College
Henry has a couple injuries to check out. He missed a game or two in his final season for unknown reasons. The severity of the ankle sprains in 2024 needs investigation as it ended his season.
The biggest issue overall may be his age which is older than you want for a rookie RB.
He finished his last three years of college with 408 carries for 2339 yards (5.7 Y/A).
For 3 low-risk, running back prospects available in the mid-rounds…