3 Detroit Lions players who need to ‘prove it’ during the 2022 season

QB Jared Goff

No surprise here. Goff is the player on the Lions’ roster that has the most to prove in 2022. With a skill position group that’s now a bit closer to the talent pool he had around him in Los Angeles, Goff needs to prove that he is a viable starting-caliber quarterback in this league.

Goff came on strong towards the end of last season, seemingly as the pressure of the games decreased for a team that started 0-10-1. Many have questioned whether he can handle pressure moments and his performance last year could reflect that. However, it’s more likely that his struggles early on came from learning a new system and playing with a well below-average group of skill position guys. The change in play-caller, from then-offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn to head coach Dan Campbell, seemed to only help too.

The Lions made that drastic move in the draft to trade up for Williams, who is recovering from a torn ACL suffered in January’s national title game for Alabama. They also signed receiver DJ Chark, who had a great year in 2019 but has been limited the last two seasons due to the poor quarterback play in Jacksonville and an injury that shortened his 2021 campaign. Add on Amon Ra St-Brown, Hockenson and running back D’Andre Swift, and the Lions suddenly have an above-average group of players surrounding Goff.

Goff is being set up to succeed this year. He may not be the quarterback of the future for the Lions. But if he wants to prove that he can be a starting quarterback in this league moving forward, he needs to have a good 2022 season.