So, no wonder the former Husker great felt depressed last season, when he missed all but two games because of a foot injury.

Thing is, he had gotten off to a hot start for the Detroit Lions, rushing for 101 yards on 18 carries before leaving a Week 2 loss to the Tennessee Titans in the first half with his injury.

"Sometimes you need to miss the game to realize how much you love it," Abdullah said in this Detroit Free Press article. "And I've always been passionate about this game, but missing last year was huge for me. I got a lot of time to sit down and think and watch a lot of football. A lot of times I was depressed, not being out there with my teammates, feeling like I'm letting them down even though it was something out of my control."

The good news? Lions general manager Bob Quinn anointed Abdullah the starter for 2017 after the organization passed on running backs completely in the draft and declined to sign anybody in the offseason.

Look for a big year from Ameer.