The Lions’ den of receivers runs pretty deep.
Detroit could be one of the NFL’s most improved teams: The Lions boast a top-tier offensive line when health is at its optimum, and also feature several under-the-radar skill position groups for new offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to work with.
What might be the most intriguing piece of this year’s Lions team, though, is its wide receiver room. With first-round pick Jameson Williams expected to see the field at some point this season, the team’s 1-through-3 could at least be better than viable and give Jared Goff a better shot this year than the revolving door the team had at receiver in 2022.
They’ll have to wait for Williams to make his comeback from a knee injury, but in the meantime, a skill position group that features D’Andre Swift, Jamaal Williams, T.J. Hockenson and Amon-Ra St. Brown is better than most realize.
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Here’s how the wide receiver room shakes out:
Lions WR depth chart
1. Amon-Ra St. Brown
2021 stats: 17 games (nine starts), 90 receptions, 912 yards, five touchdowns.
St. Brown played 611 snaps out of the slot in 2022, but he still emerged as Jared Goff’s favorite target, and the Lions’ best wideout in 2022.
With D.J. Chark locking down one outside spot and Josh Reynolds likely playing on the other while first-round pick Jameson Williams continues his recovery from an ACL injury, St. Brown might not get the volume he did in 2022, but his chemistry with Goff and production from 2021 should lead to a decent amount of targets. That should ring true especially early on in the season.
2. D.J. Chark
2021 stats: Four games (four starts), seven receptions, 154 yards, two touchdowns.
Chark was on the ascent with the Jags until 2021: Urban Meyer put the wideout on blast before the preseason, then an ankle injury cut his season short. Not exactly the exit that Chark was looking for, especially heading into free agency.
When healthy, Chark is a big, fast and athletic target on the outside. Smart money says he’s in for a big bounce-back season with the Lions, even after Williams gets on the field. With St. Brown likely operating out of the slot, Chark could prove as a viable option on the outside opposite of Williams.
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3. Josh Reynolds
2021 stats: Seven games (five starts), 19 receptions, 306 yards, two touchdowns.
Reynolds is keeping a spot warm until Williams gets back from injury. Playing in seven games with the Lions in 2021 after being claimed off waivers, Reynolds was a solid spot starter and parlayed that into a two-year, $12 million extension with Detroit.
Ultimately, Reynolds will spot as a depth wideout, giving a spell to either Chark or Williams on the outside. Still, his production in limited time with the team last year could prove to be valuable in the room.
4. Quintez Cephus
2021 stats: Five games (three starts), 15 receptions (22 targets), 204 yards, two touchdowns.
Cephus is another option for depth outside receiver while the Lions wait for the return of Williams. In 2021, Cephus was in and out of the rotation before a shoulder injury ended his season prematurely.
5. Jameson Williams (Injured)
2021 stats: N/A
Williams likely would have been the first wide receiver off the board in the 2022 NFL Draft had he not been rehabbing from a knee injury. The Lions knew that, and jumped all the way up to No. 12 from No. 32 to select him.
If Williams rehabs and rebounds well from his ACL injury, then he’s going to lock down one of Detroit’s two outside wide receiver spots, likely across from Chark. With Chark’s size and Williams’ speed, coupled with St. Brown’s activity out of the slot, that’s a very good trio of wideouts for Goff.
It’s unclear when Williams will see the field, but he definitely won’t play in the preseason and all signs point to him at least missing the first week of the regular season. When he plays, expect Williams to jump to the top of the depth chart and secure the role of No. 1 wideout for years to come.
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