Through two preseason games, the Detroit Lions seem to have a receiver problem.
While Detroit does have Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams back as two 1,000-yard receivers, there doesn’t seem to be anyone stepping up as the third option for Jared Goff yet.
Detroit signed Greg Dortch to a one-year deal, and they also picked up Cedrick Wilson Jr. for some depth, but through two preseason games, the guys that the staff was hoping would step up just have been non-existent.
Isaac TeSlaa really struggled against the Bengals, and one of his drops actually led to a Cincinnati interception, and Dominic Lovett, last year’s seventh-round pick out of Georgia, has been a ghost.
After leading the team with three catches for 28 yards in the preseason opener against Cincinnati, the staff wanted to see more from Lovett. He was fighting for a roster spot, and he needed to start acting with a sense of urgency.
Unfortunately, he disappeared completely against the Washington Commanders over the weekend, which really hurt his chances of making the roster.
NFL teams usually take five or six receivers on their 53-man rosters, so if the preseason ended today, that would likely be St. Brown, Williams, Dortch, TeSlaa, and either Tom Kennedy (special teams) or Lovett. Unfortunately for Lovett, it sounds like the punt return battle is between Dortch and Kennedy, so he loses a little bit of value by not being in that battle.
Lovett is on the roster bubble, and many believe that he’s going to make the 53-man roster, but he can’t afford another disappearing act in the preseason finale against the Indianapolis Colts on Aug. 29.
His roster chances took a hit, but if he can rebound with a multi-catch showing against the Colts, Dan Campbell and Co. will have no choice but to award him a spot on the final 53-man roster.
Dominic Lovett has a golden opportunity
Not many seventh-round picks face the type of opportunity that Lovett is currently facing with the Lions. He almost went undrafted a year ago out of Georgia, and he still managed to make the Lions’ 53-man roster primarily as a special teamer, but now he has a chance to join the receiver rotation.
Detroit needs help at receiver, and Lovett has the talent to be a decent third or fourth option in an NFL offense with his 4.40 speed and the ability to get open and stretch the field.
With TeSlaa struggling and Williams sidelined with a bit of a nagging injury, Lovett has had a chance to prove himself as a viable weapon in the Lions’ offense.
Is the quarterback room part of the problem? Yes, Josh Dobbs and Luke Altmyer have combined for 255 yards and a touchdown with three picks through two preseason games, which isn’t ideal.
It’s not all on Lovett for being unproductive, but he has to make his presence felt in one way or another. If he’s getting open, he has to relay that message to his quarterbacks.
One more ghost-like outing and we may see him get passed up by a surprise fifth receiver for a spot on the Lions’ 53-man roster.
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