The Detroit Lions opted to shore up some quality depth in the backfield by pairing Kerryon Johnson with D'Andre Swift this offseason. It appears Swift has already managed to make a solid impression on quarterback Matthew Stafford.

Stafford said during an appearance on NFL Network's “Good Morning Football” that Swift continues to show off his skill set while soaking everything in:

“I'm excited about him,” Stafford said of Swift. “He's a guy that just wants to come in here and work and get better. He's a sponge right now, just trying to learn everything that he can. Obviously, when you hand him the football, you can see the talent, it's there. You put him out wide and let him run some routes, the talent, it's there.”

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The Lions selected Swift in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft with the hope that he can emerge into a bonafide change-of-pace option in the backfield. While Johnson has proven more than capable of handling the early-down work, the rookie's versatility will give Stafford another option to kick out to on check-downs.

Despite the restrictions placed in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic this offseason, Stafford made efforts to get well-acquainted with this year's rookie class and this should help pay huge dividends for players that are poised to immediately etch out an integral role for themselves. Given Johnson's track record with injuries through the first two seasons of his career, Swift will need to be ready to take over the backfield if necessary.