Brad Holmes' confidence in Lions' WR situation is rooted exactly where expected

Using the word of no less an authority than head coach Dan Campbell, the Detroit Lions' plan to replace Josh Reynolds did not go as planned. The assumption was that someone internally would emerge, and for one reason or another no one could sustain.

But in shaping the initial rendition of their practice squad, the Lions were are able to land two notable veterans in Tim Patrick and Allen Robinson. Donovan Peoples-Jones is also back on the practice squad, to bring size to the wide receiver equation with just four kept on the initial 53-man roster.

During his annual post-training camp press conference on Thursday, general manager Brad Holmes talked about the wide receiver situation.

"We know those guys (Patrick and Robinson) can play," Holmes said. "I thought it was really cool to see Tim Patrick, after everything that he's done, move around the preseason: Run routes, show that he can still drop his weight, snap down, get out of breaks and still catch the football. So we were excited to add him."

"Then Allen Robinson, he was a guy that we wanted to add in free agency a couple years ago,” Holmes continued. “Obviously, a Detroit kid, from here, but that's not the reason why he's here. He's another guy who can step in and we know he can play. Right now, it's all about getting them acclimated. However fast that happens, we will see. If it's one week, two weeks, three weeks, we will see.”

Brad Holmes' confidence in Lions' WR situation is rooted just where you'd expect

A strong segment of Lions' fans have pushed aside any concern about who essentially the WR3/WR4 would be for the team, leaning into the depth of offensive talent that's in place. Those fans will be happy to know Holmes shares that sentiment, and it gives him confidence about how things turned out after whatever push to re-sign Reynolds there was came up short.

"I'd have a lot less confidence if we did not have an elite player (St. Brown) leading that one position, if we did not have Jameson Williams, if we did not have Kalif Raymond, and that's one piece of the offense," Holmes said. "I'd have less confidence in the remaining people in the receiver room if we did not have a quarterback with two tackles, two guards, the center, the tight end, the two running backs. I would have less confidence, but because it’s completely team effort, I still have confidence.”

Holmes did add how he thought someone would step up, and that he thought second-year man Antoine Green was on his way to being the guy before a brain and neck injury forced the Lions to waive him.

But with the cards that have been dealt, and it's all he can say he is or be, Holmes is fine with how things ultimately took shape for the Lions at wide receiver.