In 1st year, Abdullah just wants to contribute to Lions

BEREA, Ohio – Ameer Abdullah doesn't have any lofty goals for his rookie season with the Detroit Lions. Not yet, at least.

Rookie of the Year would be nice, and he's come to expect 1,000-yard seasons after topping that mark each of the last three years at Nebraska.

But Abdullah has taken a simpler approach to his first year in the NFL.

"Just contribute," Abdullah said Friday at an NFL Play 60 event when asked what his goals are for this fall. "Offensively, I feel like I can go in there and I can help out the team, but if that's not my calling for this year, definitely special teams. If that's not my calling this year, I'm going to be the best scout player in the country."

The Lions are counting on Abdullah to contribute both offensively, where he'll factor into a backfield that already includes Joique Bell and Theo Riddick, and on special teams, where he's the favorite to return kicks and punts.

At Nebraska, Abdullah racked up huge rushing numbers – 3,301 yards the last two years alone – and handled return duties at various times throughout his career. But one thing the Lions have been pleasantly surprised with are his abilities as a receiver.

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Abdullah caught just 22 passes last year at Nebraska, less than two per game, but he showed good hands, ran crisp routes and had no problem adjusting to balls thrown off target during organized team activities and at minicamp this spring.

"He does a lot of things well for a young guy," Lions coach Jim Caldwell said. "One thing that you notice quickly is he can catch the ball. He catches it, knows what to do with it when he gets it in his hands, so he's making good progress in that area."

Abdullah, who played receiver as a freshman in high school before moving to running back full-time, said both Riddick and Bell, who missed all of spring while recovering from knee and Achilles injuries, have helped his transition to life in the NFL.

He called Riddick "one of the greatest route runners I've seen" and said Bell "really believes in me" and "wants me to come out with confidence and really assert myself in training camp."

"We all bring a little different facet to the game and I'm excited to display it on Mondays and Sundays," Abdullah said.