The Detroit Lions kick off their mandatory minicamp on Tuesday before they go on a summer break until training camp. This will give the coaching staff another opportunity to evaluate position battles and players on the roster bubble before the season really starts to heat up in mid-July with training camp.
One of the position battles to watch will be in the wide receiver room. Even though there is no debate about the three starters, there are roster spots available behind Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Isaac TeSlaa. Right now, Greg Dortch seems like the favorite to be the WR4, thanks to his familiarity with Drew Petzing and special teams contributions.
Whether more receivers will be on the 53-man roster, or if Dortch will be unseated from his WR4 spot, remains to be seen. But one under-the-radar offseason addition is certainly making a case for himself.
Cedrick Wilson Jr. has a better shot of making the Lions roster than you think
Among the Lions' playmakers in the WR room, Cedrick Wilson Jr. has largely been an afterthought. Because he was signed deep into the offseason when most of the transactions had already been done, no one thought much of the Wilson acquisition. Many assumed that Kendrick Law and Dominic Lovett would be above him in the pecking order, making the veteran WR a practice squad option at best.
Since then, things have changed. Law suffered a devastating season-ending injury. And Wilson has made the most of this opportunity during organized team activities (OTAs).
Jeremy Reisman of The Pride of Detroit reported that Wilson has caught his eye during OTAs, noting his skills during a gunner drill and beating out rookie Keith Abney in another redzone drill. While admitting that it's still too early, Reisman said Wilson is one of his dark-horse candidates.
Wilson has to beat out Lovett and Jackson Meeks in the training camp competition unless Dan Campbell wants to bring six receivers into the 53-man roster. While that is unlikely, it's not impossible. That's what the Lions did last season before trading Tim Patrick to the Jaguars.
What Wilson brings to the table is versatility. He has essentially split his snaps between the slot and the outside throughout his career. His ability to move around will definitely be a trait Campbell and the coaching staff like. He is a solid route-runner with good size and has been a willing blocker in his career, making him an all-around receiver. He was also a punt returner earlier in his career, even though he is unlikely to have that role in Detroit.
If the Lions want to have more veteran competence in the WR room, Wilson may have the advantage over Lovett and Meeks in the pecking order. But he has to continue this momentum into the training camp and the preseason games. There may be more movement in the WR depth chart over the next few months in Detroit.
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