By all indications, based on what has not been done to add a player, the Detroit Lions appear quite satisfied to replace Josh Reynolds internally. Jameson Williams is expected to shine in his third season, but he is the Lions’ No. 2 wide receiver, and we’re talking about replacing Reynolds as the No. 3 option. We considered the best internal options for the Lions to replace Reynolds. Since then, some of what head coach Dan Campbell (via SI.com) has said about one of those choices, second-year guy Antoine Green, has not been favorable to him.
“He (Green) had a little bit of an injury last week, so we didn’t get to really see him. He’ll be back up doing a little bit of individual and stuff, so it’s hard to say. That progress is on hold because we weren’t able to get him out there last week. But certainly, we like the player and there’s enough – let’s see what happens in camp. He’s another guy, let him go compete.”
That’s not a comprehensive condemnation of Green, who is simply an unknown quantity after not playing much as a rookie last season. Campbell’s comments, however, mirror the bigger question marks surrounding every Lions wide receiver who is not named Amon-Ra St. Brown. Yes, there are questions about Williams until we see him perform regularly in games. The Lions don’t appear to be in a hurry to sign a notable wide receiver. On a national scale, lots of outlets feel that the lack of proven depth at the position may hold them back, and that’s not necessarily the wrong concept.
The Lions don’t seem overly compelled to make a notable addition at wide receiver. On a national scale plenty of outlets feel like the lack of proven depth at the position could hold them back, and that’s not necessarily the wrong idea
So, on the flip side of the internal options to replace Reynolds, of which there may only really be two good ones, let’s rank some potential external options.
Ranking potential external options for the Lions to replace Josh Reynolds
5. Russell Gage
Gage missed all of last season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after suffering a knee injury around this time last year. The Buccaneers had reworked his contract to make 2024 an option, which they did not pick up and he remains a free agent.
During his first year in Tampa, 2022, Gage had 51 catches and five touchdowns in 13 games. The previous two seasons, with the Atlanta Falcons, he had 72 (2020) and 66 catches (2021) respectively. If he’s healthy, now 28 years old, some of that ability should still exist.
Gage is in no position to be choosy with where he signs, should any opportunities come. If the Lions did call to bring him in for a look in training camp, which is a huge ‘if’, there’s a non-zero chance he shows enough to stick.
