Detroit Lions tailback Mikel Leshoure has said that he simply wants to play football, whether that be with his current franchise or not.

The 2011 second-round Draft pick was the team's rushing leader last year, but has fallen behind Reggie Bush and Joique Bell in the pecking order this season.

Despite this, it seems that Lions general manager Martin Mayhew is reluctant to trade Leshoure to another franchise.

Leshoure told Michigan Live: "I just want to play. That's all I want - to play. There's a lot of speculation because of the fact I'm not on the field, people are just wondering what's going on. But I want to play, and that's it.

"Last time I talked to him [Mayhew], he pretty much said he wants me here. He doesn't have any intentions on trading me. It's a long season, and he wants me to be here just in case.

"You never know what happens. Backs get banged up, somebody can go down, and I guess more so a security blanket."

Leshoure will be hoping to get his first snap of the season when Detroit host the Chicago Bears on Sunday.