Former Detroit Lions wide receiver Josh Reynolds may soon be searching for a new football home. On December 3, the Denver Broncos announced that they had waived Reynolds, who had been on injured reserve since Week 5. NFL rules required the team to either activate him to the active roster or cut him by Wednesday.
Since joining the Broncos in the offseason, Reynolds struggled with injuries and inconsistent play, failing to replicate the production he had during his last two seasons with the Lions.
No Return to Detroit Expected for Josh Reynolds
Reynolds is now subject to waivers and will become a free agent if he clears. However, SI.com’s John Maakaron believes Reynolds is unlikely to return to Detroit. He pointed out that Reynolds’ time with the Lions ended on a low note, citing several costly drops in the NFC Championship game loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
During his time in Detroit, Reynolds recorded 97 catches for 1,393 yards and 10 touchdowns over 38 games across parts of three seasons. Last year, he served as the team’s No. 2 receiver behind Amon-Ra St. Brown. However, the Lions have since shifted focus to other players, making a reunion improbable.
“Meanwhile, former Broncos wideout Tim Patrick has had success in Detroit’s offense this season and has been building a strong connection with the 30-year-old Goff,” Maakaron noted.
Reynolds was initially seen as a key addition to the Broncos’ offense but struggled to find his footing while dealing with injuries. The Broncos, led by rookie quarterback Bo Nix, are coming off a Monday Night Football victory against the Cleveland Browns and are battling for a playoff spot.
New Rising Star in Detroit
The Lions have moved on since Reynolds’ departure, giving an expanded role to third-year wide receiver Jameson Williams. The speedy wideout is having the best season of his career, recording 34 catches for 630 yards and four touchdowns so far.
Although Williams has faced challenges, including a two-game suspension for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs, he has retained the confidence of head coach Dan Campbell.
Campbell expressed optimism about Williams’ growth after the suspension. “I think any time you don’t get to play this game, you’ll always reflect, and it helps you look at it from a different vantage point. It hurts not to play,” Campbell said via SI.com. “When you don’t have anybody to blame but yourself, it makes you look at yourself a little bit harder.
And so, he’ll be fine, I really believe that, and I do believe he’ll learn from it. He was just out there at our walkthrough we had, man, he’s locked in, ready to go. I think he’s gonna come right out of this
