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Injuries force Detroit Lions to prep WRs for new roles: 'Go with what your gut tells you'

Detroit Lions wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle El grasped at just about the only silver lining he could find when speaking on his group's injury status Wednesday afternoon.

"We don't play today," he said with a smile. "That's the best way to look at it. We don't play today, we'll see what Sunday brings, so just keep working it that way. That's the idea: Get them ready for Sunday."

Two of the Lions' starting wide receivers, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Josh Reynolds, missed practice Wednesday while the third, DJ Chark, was limited.

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When Dan Campbell opened his portion of the Wednesday's media availability by listing the Lions who wouldn't be practicing — also including T.J. Hockenson, D'Andre Swift, Frank Ragnow and Jonah Jackson — he implied St. Brown and Swift were the two skill position players furthest from returning.

Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) runs from Vikings cornerback Chandon Sullivan (39) after catching a pass during the second half Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022, in Minneapolis.
Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) runs from Vikings cornerback Chandon Sullivan (39) after catching a pass during the second half Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022, in Minneapolis.

"Chark, I think will be okay, Reynolds, I think will be okay," Campbell said. "We'll take it day to day and see where we're at.

"Saint's really day to day, he's a little farther (away from returning) than Reynolds, but we'll see. Kind of the same with Swift — Swift and Saint fall in that same boat."

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Losing St. Brown would be especially problematic, considering he leads Lions pass catchers in receptions (23), receiving yards (253) and touchdowns (three). The second-year wideout injured his ankle in the first half Sunday against the Vikings, when Minnesota cornerback Patrick Peterson rolled up on his ankle after making a tackle on a screen pass.

Reynolds (10 catches, 162 yards, one TD) and Chark (seven catches, 98 yards, one TD) are second and third on the roster, respectively, in yards and receptions.

The three have combined to catch 68.6% of Jared Goff's passing yards.

The Lions restructured Wednesday's practice, as they did last week, to get more reps for receivers who may need to step up should any of the top three not be able to go.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) celebrates a touchdown against the Washington Commanders   with teammates wide receiver Josh Reynolds (8) and wide receiver DJ Chark (4) during the first half at Ford Field, Sept. 18, 2022.
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) celebrates a touchdown against the Washington Commanders with teammates wide receiver Josh Reynolds (8) and wide receiver DJ Chark (4) during the first half at Ford Field, Sept. 18, 2022.

"It was more of a mental emphasis, walkthrough (Wednesday morning)," Campbell said. "We'll get out here and practice in an hour, get some timing with the receivers and Goff.

"It's the same as it's been man, next man up, and we'll be ready to roll."

Kalif Raymond, who could fill in at the slot or on the outside, and Quintez Cephus, who can line up in either outside position, are the most likely recipients of extra snaps.

Randle El even floated the idea of bringing up Tom Kennedy from the practice squad but said the team is waiting to see how the week plays out. While the rash of injuries is a setback, the team has confidence in its depth, considering Cephus and Raymond were starters a season ago.

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"It's why we built the room kind of the way we built it, so those guys can go in and kind of fill those spots," Randle El said. "We've got some guys who can go in and fill those roles. I think the biggest thing that changes is some of the run blocking.

Sep 11, 2022; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Quintez Cephus (87) get in position for a kickoff against Philadelphia Eagles during the first half at Ford Field.
Sep 11, 2022; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Quintez Cephus (87) get in position for a kickoff against Philadelphia Eagles during the first half at Ford Field.

"Although you see those guys blocking in the run game, they don't do some of the going up and catching the linebacker or the safety from the inside (like St. Brown). We mostly do that stuff from the outside. ... But other than that, those guys can go in, get it done and hold it down."

Last season, Raymond finished second among Lions wide receivers last season with 48 catches for 576 yards and four touchdowns while Cephus played in just five games — with 15 catches for 204 yards and two TDs — before missing the rest of the year with a broken collarbone.

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Cephus and Raymond played key roles without offensive touches in the Lions' Week 2 victory over the Washington Commanders: Cephus had the key block that sprung St. Brown on his career-long 58-yard run and Raymond returned a punt 52 yards to set the Lions up with a short field.

Campbell said it's about putting them in the right spots, though game-planning will be a challenge without knowing precisely who's available.

“Yeah, it’s not the easiest thing, but you just — you kind of play the odds," he said. "And who do we think has the best chance of playing and you start to lean that way with your gameplan early. And then, you’re prepared to shift if you need to later.

"But I think you — for the most part, you go with what your gut tells you with the guys who are going to play. And then, how do we work them into the game plan and give them a chance to have success?”

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Injuries force Detroit Lions to prep wide receivers for new roles