The Detroit Lions lost the key to their passing game in last week’s loss to the Green Bay Packers, watching star wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown limp to the locker room and not return.
The team could miss St. Brown again as they face another critical test, but may have brought in some help for the back end of their depth chart. The team announced a flurry of roster moves this week, including the signing of a promising rookie receiver who led his team with more than 1,100 yards last season.
While the team has yet to announce whether St. Brown will take the field against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, the move adds much-needed depth to the position.
Lions Add Intriguing Size to Wide Receiving Corps
The Lions added rookie wide receiver Andrew Armstrong to the practice squad on Tuesday. The former Arkansas wide receiver was a onetime teammate of Lions rookie Isaas TeSlaa and showed some promise through his preseason action.
“He’s a big target at just under 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds. Armstrong was initially with the Miami Dolphins and caught a pass against the Lions in the preseason game between the two teams,” noted Jeff Risdon of USA Today’s Lions Wire.
NFL.com draft expert Lance Zierlein suggested that Armstrong had the potential to grow into a solid backup receiver in the NFL, though there are some areas of his game that need refining.
“Long-limbed, tight-hipped wideout with average feet and a lack of separation talent,” Zierlein wrote. “Armstrong put together solid catch production during his two seasons at Arkansas but will need to prove it is translatable in the pros. He doesnât get in and out of breaks quickly enough to separate and lacks the pure gas to be a field-stretching option, but he has good size and ball skills.”
Lions Face Uncertainty Over Star Wide Receiver
While it’s not clear whether Armstrong would be ready to help by the time for Thursday’s game, he does provide some depth amid the uncertainty over St. Brown’s status. The receiver told reporters on Tuesday that he is not sure whether his ankle will recover in time for this week’s game, saying he was in too much pain to return to the field in the Thanksgiving loss to the Packers.
Brown admitted that having less time to recover could be a detriment. The Lions and Cowboys both take the field just a week after playing on Thanksgiving, and losing the three extra recovery days could prevent him from taking the field.
âI think itâs a lot different. I think three days, especially with the injury that I have, is huge,â St. Brown said, via MLive.com. âIt makes it tougher. I mean, we get the three days back on the back end, which is a little different. You know, you still get it back, but the game being Thursday to Thursday, it makes it still a week break. But itâs just that each day is so crucial for me at this point. So, like I said, taking it day by day.â
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