There wasn’t too much that went right for the Detroit Lions during the 2020 campaign. Another losing record combined with the departures of head coach Matt Patricia and GM Bob Quinn, and add the impending departure of franchise QB Matthew Stafford to the mix.
All in all, with a new-look coaching staff in place, things will be looking different for the Lions the next time they hit the field.
However, one of the bright spots on the field was wide receiver Marvin Jones, who hauled in nine touchdowns while posting 978 yards.
For his efforts, he was declared the “unsung hero” for the Lions by NFL writer Nick Shook:
“Oh, hey, another overlooked receiver on a bad team. In case Matt Patricia’s firing didn’t serve as a hint, the Lions were not very good in 2020, but Jones was still quite effective. He caught 76 passes for 978 yards and nine touchdowns (tied for eighth-most in the NFL among receivers), but his younger teammate, Kenny Golladay, usually gets the love from those casually familiar with Detroit beyond its place in the history of American manufacturing.
Jones flourished when Golladay wasn’t able to play in 2020; from Week 9 to Week 17, Jones caught 25 passes of 10-plus air yards (tied for second in that span) for 519 yards (ranking third) and five touchdowns (tied for second). While fantasy owners love Golladay’s production, we can’t forget about the guy who’s been in the Motor City since 2016 — and neither can the rest of the league as the 30-year-old Jones approaches free agency.”
Jones is indeed headed for free-agency. Will he be retained by new GM Brad Holmes?
– – Quotes via Nick Shook of NFL.com Link – –
