Donovan Peoples-Jones Might Not Make the Lions’ 53 — And That Says Everything About This Roster

The Lions have built such ridiculous depth that a former starting receiver like DPJ could get cut before a special teams ace. That’s the kind of roster problem every team wishes they had.

Here’s where the Lions are at right now: they might actually cut Donovan Peoples-Jones. A guy who was catching passes from Jared Goff as recently as last year. Gone before the season starts.

And the wild part? It makes complete sense.

The Receiver Room Is Just Too Deep

Detroit could legitimately go down to four wide receivers on the active roster. That sounds insane for a passing offense this explosive, but think about what the backfield is doing in the receiving game.

Jahmyr Gibbs is about to be even MORE impactful catching passes this season. The dude was already a nightmare for linebackers — now he’s fully unlocked. And then there’s Sone’a Vaki, who’s been flashing like crazy in camp.

When you’ve got running backs operating as de facto receivers, you don’t need six wideouts eating roster spots.

Isaiah Williams has special teams value that DPJ just hasn’t shown yet. Both guys can contribute on returns and coverage units, but Williams has put it on tape. That matters when you’re fighting for the 52nd or 53rd spot.

Vaki Is Emerging as ‘Weapon X Jr.’

If Gibbs is Weapon X — and that’s a perfect label — then Vaki is shaping up to be his understudy with similar juice. The Lions aren’t just keeping three running backs. They might roll with four, which eats into receiver depth even more.

Craig Reynolds isn’t going anywhere either. He’s not the runner or pass-catcher Vaki is, but his pass protection is elite-level. That’s a different kind of valuable when you’re trying to keep Goff upright.

So it’s not Reynolds OR Vaki — it’s both, filling different roles. Reynolds handles the dirty work in blitz pickup. Vaki takes the actual carries and catches if Montgomery or Gibbs goes down.

DPJ’s Path to the Roster Just Got Narrower

This is what happens when a team builds right. Peoples-Jones isn’t a bad player. He’s just not essential on a roster this stacked.

The Lions have so many weapons that a legitimate NFL receiver might be looking for work in September. DPJ would need to show something special in the final preseason weeks to change the math.

Otherwise? He’s probably cut before Isaiah Williams. That’s not a knock on DPJ. That’s a flex by the roster Brad Holmes put together.

The Takeaways

• Lions could carry just four receivers with Gibbs and Vaki handling pass-catching duties out of the backfield
• Isaiah Williams’ special teams impact gives him an edge over DPJ for a roster spot
• Sone’a Vaki is emerging as the RB3 who’d absorb carries if a starter goes down — Craig Reynolds stays as a pass-pro specialist

Watch the full segment on YouTube: Would the Detroit Lions CUT Donovan Peoples-Jones?