Tag: Marvin Jones Jr

Lions WR Marvin Jones Jr., a former Jaguar, is in familiar situation at joint practice

Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams down with injuries

ALLEN PARK — It’s like old home week at the Detroit Lions facility this week for wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr.

Wednesday was the first of two joint practices with the Jacksonville Jaguars before their preseason game on Saturday.

Jones is wearing a Lions jersey – number 0 to be exact – but for the past two seasons he’s played for the Jaguars. Of course, previous to that he had his first stint (2016-20) with the Lions.

It’s not just players on both teams – he knows coaches, trainers, you name it.

“The environment is great. I hear ‘Hey’ out there after every play … I’m like I’ve got to get in the huddle,’’ Jones said. “It’s fun to see them. Obviously we’ve been through a lot over there. It ended great there and I’ve been here too. It’s the same. Just good to be around.’’

Jones sees plenty of similarities between the two teams that both finished 9-8 last season.

“I saw a lot of parallels last year after we came here and they whooped our butt. I don’t think we lost another game. And vice-versa,’’ Jones said. “We were on the trajectory at the same time. Definitely, definitely similar. I think both are going to be successful.’’

From the day he signed as a free agent, Jones had said how happy he is to return to Detroit.

“I love (the vibe). It was my vibe for five years – going on the field, hearing the same songs, the tunnel. It’s all good,’’ Jones said.

On Wednesday during one of the special teams drills, he had a few words on the sidelines with Jaguars coach Doug Pederson. 

“I love him as a coach for sure,’’ Jones said.

Pederson had kind words for Jones too.

“I can’t say enough great things about Marvin. What a great leader. Helped us get into the postseason last year, came up big,’’ Pederson said. “Well liked in the community. I know he’s been here and fits in really well. Wish him the best.’’

Of course, now he’s playing for Dan Campbell and it puts a smile on his face.

“He’s been great. He’s a fiery guy, it’s easy for him to hype us up. He’s a former player who knows how to do it. Knows the flow of what we should be doing and where we should be at,’’ Jones said. “It’s been great.’’

NOTES: It was a one-two gut punch for wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams on Wednesday. St. Brown went down with an apparent ankle injury and did not return to practice. Williams was going for a deep ball when he pulled up holding his right leg on what could be a hamstring injury. He also did not return to practice. Williams already missed 4 days early in camp with a leg injury. Dan Campbell wants to give him a lot of playing time in preseason contests since he will miss the first six weeks of the season due to an NFL gambling suspension. 

WR Marvin Jones sees first action at Detroit Lions training camp

ALLEN PARK — Wide receiver Marvin Jones had his first day of action at Detroit Lions training camp on Monday.

Jones was sidelined with a non-football related injury since camp started. Every day he could be seen running along the sideline with trainers..

“When you’re on the sideline looking at everybody having fun you’re like, ‘Ah.’ I knew it was going to come soon,’’ Jones said. ‘So yeah, it felt good overall to be out there, being in the flow, listening to the plays and all of that stuff.’’

It’s Jones’ second time-around with the Lions. He played in Detroit from 2016 to 2020, finishing with 36 touchdown catches in those five seasons. He then signed as a free agent with Jacksonville where he played two seasons. The LIons snapped him back up in the offseason with a one-year, $3 million deal.

The 33-year-old Jones thinks he’ll be a fit the same way he was during his first stint.

“Whatever the team needs for me, if that’s big plays, third downs, Red Zone obviously,’’ Jones said on Monday. “I plan on doing the same thing that I’ve done when I was here. I’m just excited — excited to be here with this team. Obviously it’s a new look from a while ago and it’s a great look. I’m just excited.’’

The vibe is different then it was when he left. The Lions appear to be a team on the way up, not struggling to a 5-11 record like in 2020.

“Everybody is just together, the camaraderie is there, (from) coaches on down. So it’s good to be a part of, it’s fun to be in meetings,’’ Jones said ‘So overall it’s just a great time.’’

He and quarterback Matthew Stafford had a good relationship and that’s something he hopes to build with Jared Goff who he appreciates.

“Just the plays that he makes, he knows where he wants to go with the ball. When you’re running your route you better turn your head around because he has great anticipation, that’s one thing that really sticks out,’’ Jones said. “That’s a great attribute to have as a quarterback obviously. His dedication to the game — you see it in the meeting rooms and it translates out here.’’

Five reasons the Lions beat Washington, 30-27

DETROIT — Matt Prater kicked a 59-yard field goal with no time left to give the Detroit Lions a 30-27 win at Ford Field on Sunday.

If there had been a stadium full of fans they would have been on the edge of their seats for the final two minutes.

 “We got it close enough for the most clutch kicker in football to come out there and do his thing,’’ quarterback Matthew Stafford said. “So, I was extremely happy for Matt Prater and that operation to get it up and through the uprights. I mean, 59-yarder to win it, that’s what that guy loves to do and what we love having him for. He’s a special guy in those moments and I was really proud of him today for that.”

The Lions (4-5) snapped a two-game losing streak. It was the Lions’ first win at home since Oct. 27, 2019. Washington fell to 2-7.

Detroit held a 24-3 lead midway through the third quarter, but then the Lions defense allowed three straight touchdowns to knot the game up. Still Detroit was able to hold on for the victory.

Five reasons the Lions won:

1. Matt Prater, who had been a little inconsistent lately, came through with the winning 59-yard field goal which tied his longest while in Detroit. He also kicked another 37-yarder in the fourth quarter that gave the Lions a 27-24 lead. It was Prater’s second game-winning field goal this season and the 10th since he joined the Lions. He also kicked the winner at Arizona in Week 3. It was his 100th game in a Lions uniform. He said his mental approach to the game-winner was the same as any other kick. “Just go out and swing hard and hope it goes straight type of thing. I don’t need any more pressure on myself or think that it’s anything more than it is. It’s just a field goal,’’ Prater said. “Like I said in the past, I know I haven’t had the best year, but any time I go out, I expect to make them and coming through in those moments for the team is always big and great job by the team for getting down there to even give us a shot at it, with however many seconds were there when we got the ball after the kickoff. So it was pretty cool.”

2. Matthew Stafford threw three touchdown passes and managed the last-minute drive when Detroit got the ball with 16 seconds left and tied 27-27 at their own 25. He threw a 10-yard pass to Quintin Cephus, next play was incomplete to Cephus but Washington called for roughing the passer which got the Lions to the 50 with 6 seconds left. Stafford threw a short pass to Marvin Jones Jr.. Time out was called with 3 seconds left. Then Prater kicked the 59-yarder. Stafford finished 24 of 33 with 276 yards and a 127.8 quarter rating.  “There are definitely some things we can do better and it’ll help stretch the lead, but I’m just proud of our guys for fighting,’’ Stafford said. “A win is a win. It’s tough to win in this league, I’m never going to apologize for one. Could we play better? Yeah. But we did a nice job not turning the ball over, defense did a nice job getting some stops, our special teams was nails as it always is, so that was great.”

3. Running back D’Andre Swift got the start and proved that he was worth it. He had 16 carries for 81 yards and five catches for 68 yards, including a 15-yard touchdown catch. His runs of 5, 11 and 16 yards help set up the opening touchdown, a 55-yard pass to Marvin Jones Jr. “He did a great job when he had the opportunity to make plays today, he made some great ones. Some huge runs there in the second half, a big catch for a touchdown as well,’’ Stafford said. “I was really happy with the way he played. I know he had a bunch of fun out there running around and making plays. The more guys we can get doing that, I don’t care who it is, the better, but he definitely had a great day and I’m proud of him.”

4. The Lions defense, which has been problematic in past weeks, held on when it counted most late in the fourth quarter. They have work to do, no question. It was a start. Think baby steps. Alex Smith, in his first start since 2018, threw for 390 yards often to wide-open targets. 

5. The coaching gets the blame when they lose so they should get a little credit here for pulling off the win. Somehow the players keep a positive mindset even though the start to the season has not been what they envisioned. And despite letting Washington back in the  game in the second half, they persevered. So that’s something.

(Photo courtesy of Detroit Lions) 

(Next up: The Lions play at Carolina at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 22.)