Dave Birkett

Detroit Free Press

By all appearances, Ameer Abdullah's return from September foot surgery is going well.

Abdullah today posted a short video of himself sprinting on an incline treadmill on Instagram, and the Detroit Lions running back remains on track to return by the start of off-season workouts in April.

Abdullah declined comment about his rehab during an appearance at a Play 60 event Thursday, as a Lions public relations staffer tried to cut off the interview. But pressed on where he expects to be this fall, Abdullah said, "Playing football."

"Playing football, playing well," Abdullah said.

Last year, Abdullah got off to a fast start, rushing for 101 yards on his first 18 carries before leaving with a foot injury in the first half of the Lions' second game. He spent the final 16 weeks of the season on injured reserve.

Abdullah said after the season that he expects to be full-go by the start of off-season workouts, but the Lions have made it clear that they intend to upgrade the running game -- either through the running back position or elsewhere on offense -- this off-season.

The second-round pick out of Nebraska led the team in rushing as a rookie in 2015. He said he doesn't have a message for the Lions -- nor anyone else -- with NFL free agency and the draft fast approaching.

"The draft and free agency don’t have much to do with me, because I’m not a draft pick right now, and I’m not a free agent right now, so it doesn’t have anything to really do with me," Abdullah said. "Don’t really have any messages. Words only go so far anyways."

Barry knows best: Detroit Lions need better run game

Contact Dave Birkett: dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.

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