Lions Let Josh Reynolds Walk — Now What?
Detroit let a core piece of their NFC Championship roster walk in Josh Reynolds, and the backup plan is Tim Patrick. The Heavyweights aren’t sold that’s enough.
After going 12-5 and reaching the NFC Championship Game, the Lions decided Josh Reynolds wasn’t worth keeping around. Now they’re banking on Tim Patrick to fill that role. Bold strategy? Maybe. Smart? The jury’s still out.
You Don’t Break Up a Core Like That
Here’s the thing about teams that go deep in the playoffs: you try to keep them together. Reynolds was part of that core. He showed up when it mattered. And the Lions just… let him go.
It’s not that Tim Patrick can’t play. The guy’s got size, he’s got experience, and if he’s healthy, he can be a legitimate threat. But “if” is doing a lot of heavy lifting in that sentence. You can’t just assume a guy coming off injury is going to seamlessly replace what Reynolds brought to this offense.
The Waiver Wire Shouldn’t Be Plan B
The Heavyweights made a solid point: you need an insurance policy here. If Patrick doesn’t work out, then what? You’re scrambling. You’re scouring the waiver wire mid-season hoping somebody shakes loose. That’s not how championship teams operate.
Detroit needs a big body who can win contested catches and keep defenses honest. Reynolds did that. Patrick might do that. But “might” doesn’t win playoff games.
DPJ Was Supposed to Be the Answer — He Wasn’t
Let’s not forget Donovan Peoples-Jones was supposed to be part of this equation. All that preseason hype about his potential, about what he could bring to the offense. Then the actual preseason happened, and… nothing. Not enough to earn a roster spot. So the Lions moved on.
That’s the right call when a guy doesn’t produce. But it also means Detroit’s receiver depth is thinner than they’d like heading into a season where expectations are Super Bowl or bust.
The Lions aren’t in panic mode. Not yet. But they should be keeping their eyes open. Because if Tim Patrick doesn’t hit, this offense suddenly has a problem at a position that was a strength last year.
The Takeaways
- Letting Josh Reynolds walk after an NFC Championship run is a risky move for a team trying to run it back
- Tim Patrick is the current Plan A, but there’s no real Plan B if he doesn’t deliver
- DPJ couldn’t earn a spot despite preseason hype — Detroit’s receiver depth is a legit concern
Watch the full segment on YouTube: Can the Detroit Lions Replace Josh Reynolds’ Production?
