The Detroit Lions' plan to replace Josh Reynolds internally ultimately bit them, as no one they had stepped up during training camp and the preseason. The were able to add notable veterans Tim Patrick and Allen Robinson to their practice squad, and Donovan Peoples-Jones was brought back on the practice squad.
Patrick and Robinson had work to do to learn the Lions' offense, so being added to the active roster for Week 1 was a coin-flip proposition at best. The Lions did add a wide receiver to the roster off the practice squad before the game against the Rams: Tom Kennedy, who played four offensive snaps.
With Patrick and Robinson in particular, since they didn't spend the preseason with them, the Lions can slow play adding them to the 53-man roster. Each has three weekly practice squad elevations available before they'd have to added to the active roster, as does Peoples-Jones.
Dan Campbell says it all about Lions' plans to elevate a WR from practice squad
On Wednesday, via Lions Wire, head coach Dan Campbell was asked about Patrick's chances to be activated, or if Peoples-Jones' familiarity with the system gives him any advantage.
“All of those guys are competing,” Campbell said. "That’s why when you’re on the vet squad, every day you put in the work and our eyes are open. I told them all that last week, and so we’re paying close attention to Robinson as well. So, all options are on the table, and we’ll just take it as it comes.”
Campbell being sure to mention Robinson could be meaningful, or it could mean nothing. In his meeting with the media on Thursday, offensive coordinator Ben Johnson called Kennedy a "blankie."
"Being here, he is a little bit of a blankie for us because we know, if something were to happen, he could be X, F (or) Z (positions)," Johnson said. "He can play every spot at the receiver spot. We feel really good about what he can bring to the table and I think that gave him the nod last week.”
With no offense meant to Kennedy, Jeff Risdon of Lions Wire hit the nail on the head if he's the wide receiver who's elevated to the Lions' active roster again this week.
Absolutely zero offense to Tom Kennedy, but if it's him again, the other vets on the PS probably aren't ever going to be viable options
— Jeff Risdon (@JeffRisdon) September 11, 2024
It remains to be seen if the Lions have done enough, and maybe just enough, to fix their wide receiver issue. But if Patrick, Robinson or Peoples-Jones is not deemed worthy of a spot on the active roster this week, even just as a practice squad elevation on Saturday, the issue is alive and well-as it has been on some level since about March.