On Monday, it was reported that the Detroit Lions are releasing wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones. The 6-foot-2 receiver was the team’s leading candidate to win the WR-X job, an outside receiver position earmarked for big, physical players who can beat press coverage and provide a red zone threat. The position was filled by Josh Reynolds last year, but Reynolds signed with the Denver Broncos in free agency.
The Lions have clearly tried to find a replacement for Reynolds. Unfortunately, Antoine Green suffered an injury that caused him to be waived with an injury, and Peoples-Jones just didn’t provide the consistency and production they were hoping for. There’s still a chance someone like Daurice Fountain makes the roster, or the Lions could make a move—be it a trade or a waiver claim—to add an external receiver.
Coach Dan Campbell explained the luxury of having that type of receiver.
“You can just get out there and it’s one-on-one and if you like the matchup, who cares if he’s pressed?” Campbell said. “Our guy is going to beat your guy. And [Jared] Goff put into position to where he can play rebound, he can play big boys in the box and down on the block and is going to make a play for you.”
However, Campbell also said if the Lions can’t find that big-bodied receiver, he doesn’t expect the offense to be limited in any way.
“With what we’ve got on this roster, (offensive coordinator) Ben [Johnson] does a hell of a job of making sure that we put guys in position to have success and let our guys go win and whatever it takes to allow them to do that,” Campbell said. “So, no, I wouldn’t say it limits us.”
In practice, the Lions have already adjusted to life without a prototypical X receiver. Kalif Raymond, who had been a reserve for most of training camp, has joined Jameson Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown with the first-team offense when they go into three receiver sets. At just 5-foot-8, Raymond doesn’t exactly bring the added dimension of a tall, rangy receiver, but he’s one of the most reliable players on the roster and it’s clear Campbell trusts his offensive coordinator to make it work, if necessary.
That said, Campbell admitted that they would still love a bigger receiver if one comes along.
“Like any offense or defense, man, you want, ‘Give us everything.’ If you can have it all, then you can use it all,” Campbell said. “But no, it’s not going to limit what we do (without one.)”
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