Detroit Lions’ Amon-Ra St. Brown Reveals Knee Procedure, Timeline For Return

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, a former USC Trojans standout, revealed he underwent offseason knee surgery but expects to be ready for training camp. St. Brown, a First-Team All-Pro in 2024, has been sidelined during the Lions’ offseason practices as he rehabs from the procedure. The 25-year-old star is coming off a career year in Detroit and remains one of the NFL’s most productive receivers heading into the 2025 season.
Apr 24, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions Amon-Ra St. Brown cheers during the second half of the game between the Detroit Pistons and the New York Knicks during game three of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Apr 24, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions Amon-Ra St. Brown cheers during the second half of the game between the Detroit Pistons and the New York Knicks during game three of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, a former USC Trojans standout, revealed he underwent offseason knee surgery but expects to be ready for training camp. The news was shared by Eric Woodyard, Detroit Lions Reporter for ESPN.

St. Brown is a First-Team All-Pro in 2024 and has been sidelined during the Lions’ offseason practices as he rehabs from the procedure. The 25-year-old star is coming off a career year in Detroit and remains one of the NFL’s most productive receivers heading into the 2025 season.

St. Brown spoke to reporters following a practice on Thursday and confirmed he had surgery shortly after the 2024 season ended. The procedure was not major, he said, but rather a clean-up to address lingering issues.

“I had a surgery on my knee after the season just to clean some stuff up, so I’ve been rehabbing that, but I should be good to go for training camp,” St. Brown told Woodyard.

Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Apr 24, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions Amon-Ra St. Brown cheers during the second half of the game between the Detroit Pistons and the New York Knicks during game three of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

The dynamic star has emerged as the face of Detroit’s offense since entering the league as a fourth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Last season, he started all 17 games and led the Lions in every major receiving category, finishing with 115 receptions for 1,263 yards and 12 touchdowns. It marked his third straight 1,000-yard season and earned him his third Pro Bowl nod.

His production helped fuel Detroit’s most successful season in decades. The Lions won 15 games in 2024, claimed their second consecutive NFC North title, and reached the NFC Championship Game. Expectations for 2025 are even higher.

“At this point, we want to win a Super Bowl; that’s it,” St. Brown said. “Obviously, we’ve got to make the playoffs to win the Super Bowl, but that’s understood by everyone, so we want to win the Super Bowl. Plain and simple.”

While St. Brown’s injury doesn’t appear to be a long-term concern, the Lions are dealing with other changes on offense. Earlier this week, longtime starting center Frank Ragnow announced his retirement after seven seasons in the NFL. Ragnow, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, anchored the offensive line during the team’s rebuild and recent rise to prominence.

MORE: USC Trojans, Lincoln Riley Soar To Top Of Recruiting Rankings: Mark Bowman Commit

MORE: USC Trojans Lose To Oregon State In Corvallis Regional Final, Now Face Elimination

MORE: USC Trojans, Lincoln Riley's Biggest Recruiting Weapon?

His departure creates a major hole in the trenches. Detroit is expected to rely on a combination of veteran Graham Glasgow, rookie Tate Ratledge, and free-agent signing Trystan Colon to fill the void at center. The team will also need to replace starting right guard Kevin Zeitler, who signed with the Tennessee Titans.

Despite the roster turnover, optimism remains high. Coach Dan Campbell has embraced the challenge of a 2025 schedule that includes five primetime games and tough matchups late in the season, including a Christmas Day game at Minnesota and the annual Thanksgiving showdown, this year against the Green Bay Packers.

Detroit Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown on the Trojans Tailgate show at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Sep 9, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Detroit Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown on the Trojans Tailgate show at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

For St. Brown, training camp will be the next step in returning to full form. If his rehab stays on track, he should be back in time to help lead the Lions through what could be a Super Bowl-caliber season. Can the former Trojan help build on Detroit's recent success and break through to the Super Bowl?

Recommended Articles


Published
Nathan Fusco
NATHAN FUSCO

Nathan Fusco is a staff writer for Trojans on SI, part of the Sports Illustrated network. He covers USC athletics with an emphasis on recruiting and daily updates. A digital media veteran with over a decade of experience, Fusco began his career as a founding editor at DBLTAP, helping to build the esports brand into an industry leader for Minute Media while producing international event coverage and branded content for partners such as Mountain Dew, KIA, and Best Buy. He built an influencer network that drove millions of monthly sessions, helping DBLTAP become a finalist for “Best Coverage Site” at the 2018 Esports Industry Awards. He later served as Content Manager for Imprint Events Group, leading national digital strategy across multiple markets.