The Lions held off on placing running back David Montgomery on the injured reserve list after he received a third medical opinion following an MCL injury in Sunday's loss to the Buffalo Bills, Eric Woodyard of ESPN reports.

A source told ESPN's Adam Schefter that Montgomery "might have avoided season-ending surgery" and there is "optimism [for a potential return] in the playoffs."

"It's about rehabbing and going from there," the source said.

Initially, Montgomery was feared to be out for the season before receiving additional testing. Earlier in the week, Lions coach Dan Campbell acknowledged that the team was leaning on doctors while in a "waiting mode" about his injury status.

"It is one of these injuries that's unique because you need to know is it stable? OK, is it fixed, or will it scar? And then be certainly stable for now and for later and then you've got to rely on him, like, 'Hey man, I'm good. I can do this,'" Campbell said on Wednesday. "So, it's a combination certainly the doctors then him as well, where he thinks he can go with it and can he protect himself and play at a high level. So, we're in a holding pattern, which as of right now is a positive."

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