Todd Bowles compared Detroit Lions' running back Ameer Abdullah to Barry Sanders after their Thursday preseason game.

"He looked just like he did in college," Bowles said of the Lions second-round pick in this year's draft. "He's quick as a cat. He's about as quick as Barry Sanders. I'm not saying he is Barry but he's a good running back.

"He made us miss today."

With the ball on the Lions' 23-yard line, he took a handoff from Kellen Moore and headed toward the right sideline before cutting back at the hashmarks and bursting through a hole for a 45-yard gain.