DJ Chark’s departure has Detroit Lions eyeing outside wide receiver help
Detroit Lions wide receiver DJ Chark celebrates after making a magnificent catch in the endzone for a touchdown in the second half on Sept. 11, 2022, at Ford Field in Detroit. The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Detroit Lions 38-
DJ Chark’s departure in free agency has the Detroit Lions examining outside wide receivers who could fill the vertical void left on their roster.
Chark left for a one-year deal to sign with Frank Reich’s new-look Carolina Panthers. The new Panthers head coach revealed at the NFL owners meetings that Chark underwent offseason ankle surgery after missing six games for the issue last season in Detroit.
The 26-year-old wideout was strong down the stretch after returning from the injury, though. Chark finished with 30 catches, 502 yards and three touchdowns, not to mention five catches of more than 25 yards through the season’s final month. And his departure creates a potential hole around these parts, with the Lions lacking Chark’s length and downfield ability on their roster.
“Yeah, I would say so. Yes, I would. I would. I think it would be nice to find another guy that can help us out there,” Lions head coach Dan Campbell said from Phoenix. “I would say our eyes are there. We do have eyes there, somehow, some way.
“But yeah, we’ll miss Chark. He’s another one. He brought something to us that was a little different than the rest of them, so yeah, I think that’s a fair assessment.”
The Lions have a solid situation at receiver on paper, no doubt. They have one of the game’s best talents at the position in Amon-Ra St. Brown, with the speedy Jameson Williams waiting in the wings. Josh Reynolds and Kalif Raymond highlight the depth, with each bringing a different flavor to the offense.
Chark missed time in 2022. St. Brown is a problem from anywhere on the field, so let’s not get too carried away. But the Sun God is arguably the best slot receiver in the league. And it always helps those type of underneath, versatile players to have a lanky outside vertical threat stretching the field and creating breathing room.
Williams will undoubtedly see a bigger piece of the pie as that weapon in Year 2. But it’s also possible the Lions view 2023 as his true rookie campaign after a limited first season. Reynolds and Raymond have proven to be strong rotational pieces. Reynolds adds some length to the outside and a familiar red-zone option. Raymond has delivered his best seasons in the NFL in back-to-back years. But those two are more efficient when working as part of a group and not eating the most snaps. That all keeps another one-year deal for a vertical option, not to mention drafting another wide receiver in the cards.
Detroit’s offense and quarterback Jared Goff were more effective with Chark stretching the field. There is no disputing that, so keeping the roster loaded with toys for blossoming offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is never a bad thought.
“I’ll say that that’s still a position that we’ll still monitor,” Lions general manager Brad Holmes said about the situation. “You never really can have enough of those guys, just to be honest with you. And just to add more competition, but whether it’s Chark’s skill set or a different flavor, if it’s just the right football player, we’ll definitely continue to monitor that position.”
