Lions WR depth chart: Will Jameson Williams, Amon-Ra St. Brown or DJ Chark be Detroit’s top receiver?
The recipient lion’s den is quite deep.
Detroit could be one of the most improved teams in the NFL: The Lions have a top-notch offensive line when health is at their best and also have several under-the-radar ability groups for new offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to work with.
However, what might be the most intriguing part of this year’s Lions team is its large receiver room. With first-round pick Jameson Williams likely to see the field at some point this season, the team’s 1-to-3 could at least be better than feasible and give Jared Goff a better shot this year than the revolving door the team has at the receiver had in 2022.
They’ll have to wait for Williams’ comeback from a knee injury, but in the meantime, a skill-position group featuring D’Andre Swift, Jamaal Williams, TJ Hockenson and Amon-Ra St. Brown is better than most realize.
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Here’s how the wide receiver room shakes:
Lions WR depth map
1. Amon-Ra St. Brown
Statistics 2021: 17 games (nine starts), 90 receptions, 912 yards, five touchdowns.
St. Brown played 611 snaps from the slot in 2022, but he still proved to be Jared Goff’s favorite target and the Lions’ best wideout of 2022.
With DJ Chark occupying one outside seat and Josh Reynolds likely playing the other while first-round pick Jameson Williams continues his recovery from an ACL injury, St. Brown may not be getting the volume he had in 2022, but he’s getting his chemistry Goff and production from 2021 should result in a decent amount of goals. That should be true especially early in the season.
2. DJ Char
Statistics 2021: Four games (four starts), seven receptions, 154 yards, two touchdowns.
By 2021, Chark was on the rise with the Jags: Urban Meyer put the wideout into overdrive before the preseason, then an ankle injury ended his season. Not exactly the exit Char was looking for, especially in the direction of a free hand.
When he’s healthy, Chark is a big, fast, and athletic target on the outside. Smart Money says he has a big recovery season ahead with the Lions even after Williams comes onto the field. With St. Brown likely operating outside the slot, Chark could prove to be a viable option on the outside against Williams.
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3.Josh Reynolds
Statistics 2021: Seven games (five starts), 19 receptions, 306 yards, two touchdowns.
Reynolds keeps a patch warm until Williams comes back from injury. Reynolds played in seven games with the Lions in 2021 after being released from waivers. He was a solid starter and turned that into a two-year, $12 million extension with Detroit.
Ultimately, Reynolds is recognized as a deep wideout and charms either Chark or Williams on the outside. Still, his production in limited time with the team last year could prove valuable in the space.
4. Quintez Cephus
Statistics 2021: Five games (three starts), 15 receptions (22 goals), 204 yards, two touchdowns.
Cephus is another option for depth receivers while the Lions await Williams’ return. In 2021, Cephus was in and out of rotation before a shoulder injury ended his season early.
5. Jameson Williams (injured)
Statistics 2021: N / A
Williams would likely have been the first wide receiver in the 2022 NFL Draft had he not recovered from a knee injury. The Lions knew this and jumped from 32nd to 12th to pick him.
If Williams rehabs from his ACL injury and recovers well, he will lock one of Detroit’s two outside wide receiver spots, likely across from Chark. With Chark’s size and William’s speed coupled with St. Brown’s off-slot activity, this is a very good trio of wideouts for Goff.
It’s unclear when Williams will see the field, but he definitely won’t be playing preseason and all signs point to missing at least the first week of the regular season. If he plays, expect Williams to jump to the top of the depth chart and secure the No. 1 role in the wideout for years to come.