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Fighting for a spot: Daurice Fountain, Isaiah Williams, Kaden Davis, Donovan Peoples-Jones
The fight for WR3 has been ongoing since the departure of Josh Reynolds — a steady and dependable veteran receiver who signed with the Denver Broncos in free agency for $9 million over two seasons, reportedly worth up to $14 million. In hindsight, you have to wonder if the Lions regret not doing what it takes to retain Reynolds. They had the money to make it happen, and despite how the fan base might feel about his drops in the NFC Championship game, bringing back Reynolds was part of the plan this offseason.
“We’re still not done yet, in terms of targets that are still out there in free agency,” Lions GM Brad Holmes said at the owners meetings in March. “Josh Reynolds, he’s one that was part of the original plans. Still having dialogue, we’ll just kind of see where that goes. But that’s really the only one that’s still out there who was in the original plans.”
Those plans had to change. And since then, the Lions have struggled to adapt.
It began this spring with Antoine Green. A former seventh-round pick, Green was given every opportunity to seize the job but didn’t. After an injury suffered in the preseason opener vs. the New York Giants, Green was waived/injured by the team. At one point, Daurice Fountain was the frontrunner. He certainly looked the part as a bigger body. He made play after play in practice and slowly earned first-team reps in the process. He’s still in the mix, but it’s been quiet for Fountain ever since joint practices.
Kaden Davis has been worked into the mix at times, delivering explosive plays in practices and even in Detroit’s preseason win over the Chiefs. And you have to think the Lions would love nothing more than for Peoples-Jones to be the guy. They traded a 2025 6th-rounder for him at the deadline last year, but up until recently, he hasn’t stood out. He’s been better over the last week or so, but questions remain.
Of this bunch, Williams has had the best preseason. He leads the team in yards (106) and receptions (10) and has looked like a reliable target in the process. A talented UDFA out of Illinois, Williams might have done enough to earn a roster spot — whether it’s in Detroit or somewhere else. Here’s what’s against Williams: he has not repped with the first-team offense, usually working with the twos and threes. And Raymond can do everything he can, in a similar build. Ben Johnson expressed interest in having a WR3 with size and length to complement St. Brown and Jameson Williams. Essentially, an X receiver. So even though Williams has been impressive, there might not be enough variance there to warrant a spot.
“You still want to get a look at DPJ and Fountain and Davis and they’re really suited outside so that’s part of the trick here,” head coach Dan Campbell explained. “You do that, then you’re taking away an opportunity for one of those guys to give another look. So, it’s something we’ve talked about.”
One thing is clear: the Lions are begging for more.
“We’re waiting for somebody to step forward,” Campbell said last week. “We’re waiting for any one of those guys to step forward. …We’re dying for somebody to step up and say, ‘Hey man, I’m the guy. I’m the guy you can depend on. I’ll be the same consistent player every day and find a way to make the plays that come my way.’”
Read more here.
GO FURTHER
Reevaluating the Detroit Lions’ wide receivers as cut day approaches
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