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Detroit Lions: TJ Jones is quietly having a great season

By Ash Thompson

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 1: T.J. Jones #13 of the Detroit Lions lunges into the end zone with the ball for a successful two point conversion in the third quarter of the game against the Minnesota Vikings on October 1, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 1: T.J. Jones #13 of the Detroit Lions lunges into the end zone with the ball for a successful two point conversion in the third quarter of the game against the Minnesota Vikings on October 1, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) /
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TJ Jones was a relatively obscure player before 2017. He has taken advantage of his opportunity with the Detroit Lions this season.

The Detroit Lions receiver group has really come together in recent weeks. With a diverse skill set, a couple injuries, and varying levels of experience the team took a little time to figure themselves out. Since the New Orleans Saints game, however, the Lions passing game has been clicking on all cylinders.

Matthew Stafford has climbed to fourth in the NFL in passing yards, and he is ninth in yards per attempt and passer rating among players with 50 or more attempts. Much has been made of the resurgence of Marvin Jones, the grit of Golden Tate, and the danger presented by Kenny Golladay. The Lions unsung hero in 2017, however, has been TJ Jones.

The Lions fourth-year wide receiver has been quietly putting up the kind of numbers that get a player a nice long look. As far as third wide receivers go a team could do much worse. Unfortunately for the Lions prospects for keeping him after 2017, there are many teams that are doing much worse higher than that on their depth chart.  Jones, who will be a restricted free agent after this season, has quietly amassed more yards than Eric Ebron, Kenny Golladay, or Theo Riddick in the 2017 season. He has more than doubled his career numbers in targets, catches, and yardage in just ten games.

It is not just the quantity of TJ Jones’ numbers that have been impressive, but also the quality. Jones has been targeted with ten or more yards to go for a first down 25 times. He has converted 11 or those targets for first downs. To give that a little perspective; he trails Golden Tate who has 44 targets in such situations by one converted first down, and Marvin Jones who has 48 targets by two. Jones has produces 19 first downs on his 24 catches. He leads the team with 79.2% of his receptions resulting in a first down.

What is most improbably about TJ Jones’ success is that he had only seven targets in the month of September. It has been said that preparation plus opportunity equals success, While he waited for an opportunity, TJ Jones clearly prepared. Jones came to Detroit during the previous regime in 2014. He missed his entire rookie season with nerve damage in his shoulder. His injury limited him through his second season with the Lions.

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In his third season new general manager Bob Quinn brought in several veteran free agents to compete for roles in the Lions’ wide receiver corp, Jones was only on the active roster for three games. Finally, in 2017, TJ Jones found his opportunity. He has been an invaluable part of the Lions passing game.

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