Advertisement

Quintez Cephus injury means more KhaDarel Hodge for anemic Detroit Lions passing game

Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press
·2 min read

The Detroit Lions have failed to muster any semblance of a deep passing game in the season's first five weeks, and now they could be without their top vertical threat for the rest of the season.

Quintez Cephus suffered a broken collar bone in Sunday's 19-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, NFL Network reported, and will require surgery that will keep him out at least three months.

A fifth-round pick out of Wisconsin last spring, Cephus was injured with 59 seconds left in Sunday's first half, when he was driven hard to the ground by two Vikings defenders on the Lions sideline.

DAVE BIRKETT: Dan Campbell is biggest reason to believe in Detroit Lions rebuild

JEFF SEIDEL: Dan Campbell must learn one thing: Heartbreak is not a block to build on

Detroit Lions receiver Quintez Cephus is carted off the field with a shoulder injury during the first half against the Minnesota Vikings on Oct. 10, 2021 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
Detroit Lions receiver Quintez Cephus is carted off the field with a shoulder injury during the first half against the Minnesota Vikings on Oct. 10, 2021 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

He remained on the ground for several minutes following the play, and was carted to the locker room before halftime.

Cephus is the only Lions player averaging more than 13 yards per catch this season. He has played as the Lions' primary X receiver in recent weeks, since Tyrell Williams was placed on injured reserve with a brain injury.

LIONS STOCK WATCH: Trio of rookies shine when needed

The Lions (0-5) finished Sunday's game with Kalif Raymond, Amon-Ra St. Brown, KhaDarel Hodge and Trinity Benson as their top receivers. Collectively, that quartet had 36 career receptions entering the season.

Hodge saw extensive playing time in Cephus' absence Sunday, and could take on a more prominent role on offense going forward.

The Lions, one of two remaining winless teams in the NFL, have one of the league's most conservative passing attacks. Jared Goff is averaging an NFL-worst 3.7 air yards per completion, and the Lions depend heavily on tight end T.J. Hockenson and running back D'Andre Swift for big plays.

Cephus is tied for fourth on the team with 15 catches for 204 yards, behind Swift (29 catches, 252 yards), Hockenson (24-237) and St. Brown (19-178).

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett .

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions' Quintez Cephus suffers broken collar bone