After losing Josh Reynolds to the Denver Broncos in free agency, the Detroit Lions have gone internal for how they'll fill the void. Donovan Peoples-Jones and Kalif Raymond are the proverbial favorites to step into a bigger role, though 2023 practice squad member Daurice Fountain is making a legit run at the No. 3 wide receiver role so far in training camp.
Head coach Dan Campbell has praised Fountain a couple times recently, and before Friday morning's practice he raised the bar for the WR3 dark horse (h/t to SI.com).
"Fountain makes plays. He is making some plays," Campbell said. "You see the 1-on-1, he makes a big, high catch there. I think we all are intrigued with Fountain. I said that a few days ago. We need to see more out of him, we need to see more. It's gotta show up. He's gotta be detailed in what he does. He's got an unbelievable opportunity here and he knows that, and it's gotta show up."
Dan Campbell calls out Donovan Peoples-Jones
For better or worse, Campbell won't mince words when he talks. He may stretch a little too far in praise sometimes, but there's very little "coach speak" in what he says about players. Sometimes you need to read between the lines a little (see comments about D'Andre Swift at the 2023 NFL Combine), and sometimes you don't.
Peoples-Jones was put behind the eight-ball when he was acquired from the Cleveland Browns at the trade deadline last season. So five receptions in eight games for the Lions (72 offensive snaps) goes down as a mulligan, and his ability was believed in enough for him to be re-signed to a one-year deal. A full offseason in the system would benefit him greatly, and with Reynolds' departure opportunity would naturally knock.
On Friday, via Nolan Bianchi of the Detroit News, Campbell practically called out Peoples-Jones.
"(The expectation) was to come in here and compete for that third, fourth receiver. That's what it was," Campbell said. "So much of it is, 'All right, who's going to fill in for Josh Reynolds? Who's going to take that? Is it by committee or is there a guy that…is going to step up and become that for us?'"
"He's a guy I expect more out of too, and he knows that," Campbell said. "Now, he's working, he works at it, man. He wants it, but we just need him to take another step here."
Mike Payton of AtoZ Sports included Peoples-Jones in his practice observations from Friday, after Campbell's comments.
"Peoples-Jones was supposed to be a guy that would have a chance to not just make the team, but start at the WR3 spot. Now there's a question of whether or not he'll make this team. He had trouble separating from corners all day and it caused pass breakups. A few reporters were comparing him to Breshad Perriman. That's not the comparison you want to have around Detroit."
In the first offseason under Campbell and Brad Holmes, albeit with limited resources and appeal to free agents, the Lions signed wide receivers Breshad Perriman and Tyrell Williams. Perriman did not make it to Week 1 on the roster, however aided by a hip injury.
Take out the injury, and Peoples-Jones is on the Perriman path right now. Fountain is coming for the job he was expected to at least be a top candidate for, and he's not doing much about it. Campbell is trying to light a fire under the Detroit native, with a roster spot that had seemed like a lock at stake.