Detroit Lions Need to Make Jeremy Ross Earn Roster Spot as a Wide Receiver
By Zac Snyder
Officially a wide receiver, Jeremy Ross has had a roster spot with the Detroit Lions as their kick and punt returner. If Ross is to remain the Lions’ return man, he should have to earn a roster spot as a wide receiver first.
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One of the positive takeaways from Thursday’s preseason opener against the New York Jets is that the Lions have depth on the roster they haven’t enjoyed for many years. That includes at wide receiver. Although the group of receivers behind Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate aren’t top-end talents, the Lions aren’t without options for putting together a good group for the final 53-man roster.
Being the kick returner was enough for Ross to earn a roster spot in years past as other options at wide receiver were unlikely to make significant contributions during the regular season. That’s not the case this season with veteran newcomers Lance Moore and Greg Salas showing nicely so far, not to mention Ryan Broyles and TJ Jones, both of whom can help in the return game and offer far more than Ross as wide receivers.
If the Lions’ decision-making process at cut time is to put together the best 53 players for the final roster, as it should be, then it is hard to see any justification for Ross to stick. Ross may still be the best return man the Lions have, but that doesn’t mean his inclusion optimizes the roster. Any step down in the return game would be more than made up for in contributions his replacement on the roster could make in the return game.
Ross received the Lions’ only negative wide receiver grade from Pro Football Focus in Thursday’s game against the Jets. You could chalk that up to limited snaps in just one game but that is consistent with what we saw last year when Ross did little to contribute on offense and graded out by PFF as the team’s worst wide receiver.
With aspirations to “take the next step”, the Lions can’t afford to use a roster spot, and more importantly a spot on the gameday active roster, on a return specialist. There is room for Ross, but he should have to earn it as a member of the offense first.
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