How injuries have derailed the Detroit Lions’ season

DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 18: Running back Kerryon Johnson #33 of the Detroit Lions runs for yardage against strong safety Eric Reid #25 of the Carolina Panthers during the first half at Ford Field on November 18, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 18: Running back Kerryon Johnson #33 of the Detroit Lions runs for yardage against strong safety Eric Reid #25 of the Carolina Panthers during the first half at Ford Field on November 18, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images
Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images /

Matthew Stafford has lost one of his linemen, he lost his starting running back, and in the passing game, he lost one of his best receivers to injury too.

Wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. has been a vital part of the Lions’ offense since he was signed in free agency back in 2016. In the nine games he played this season, Jones hauled in 35 catches for 508 yards and five touchdowns.

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Jones hurt his knee in the team’s first matchup against Chicago and missed the next two games of the season. The seventh-year receiver was placed on injured reserve on November 26th.

Detroit’s receiving corps was a bright spot on this offense, but things changed very quickly. General manager Bob Quinn traded away receiver Golden Tate after Week 8 and Jones was placed on injured reserve in Week 10.

These moves left the team with an offense made up of receivers Kenny Golladay, Bruce Ellington, TJ Jones, Brandon Powell, and Andy Jones.

The Tate trade negatively impacted the offense, but losing Jones was just the nail in the coffin for the Lions. Stafford lost his two best receivers in the course of three weeks. While he still has Golladay, the other players in that position group have not stepped up.

Since Jones was injured, Detroit’s wide receivers collectively have 39 receptions for 414 yards and one touchdown. Stafford relied heavily on Jones and Tate over the last few seasons, and the five receivers he has on the roster now have not been able to capitalize on their increased roles.

There is a lot of blame to go around for why the Lions’ record is what it is, but many of those problems can be traced back to injuries to their key players. Three injuries on offense and one on defense caused massive changes to the roster.

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All Detroit can do now is hope to rest their starters as the season comes to a close, and hope that the rest of the team can come out of 2018 healthy.