7 Lions Offensive Players to Watch at OTAs
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Organized team activities open up for the Lions at their Allen Park practice facility this week, and there will certainly be a variety of players to keep a close eye on.
For starters, it'll be highly interesting to see how Detroit's first-year pros, like running back Jahmyr Gibbs and linebacker Jack Campbell, mesh with the veteran players at their respective positions.
For the sake of today's piece, though, let's take a look at the offensive players that Lions fans and pundits alike should closely watch during OTAs.
QB Jared Goff
A large amount of Detroit's success in 2023 will be contingent upon whether Goff can replicate or even exceed his production from a season ago.
Goff experienced a career resurgence of sorts in 2022, throwing for 29 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. Meanwhile, he recorded the second-best QBR of his career (61.1).
Going into OTAs, it'll be interesting to observe how the veteran signal-caller meshes with his new offensive weapons, namely wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. and tight end Sam LaPorta.
WR Amon-Ra St. Brown
There will be an immense amount of pressure on St. Brown to replicate his numbers from last season, especially now that Jameson Williams has been suspended for the first six games of the 2023 campaign.
St. Brown, a fourth-round draft pick in 2021, produced his first 100-catch and 1,000-yard receiving season in 2022, and will enter the upcoming season as Goff's go-to target in the passing game.
It'll be very interesting to see if Goff and St. Brown sustain their solid rapport from a season ago, starting in OTAs this week.
The rookie tight end, a second-round pick of the Lions this past April (No. 34 overall), was perhaps the most impressive performer on Day 2 of rookie minicamp. He showcased both solid route-running ability and hands, and looked the part of a No. 1 tight end. He'll be expected to be just that during his rookie campaign with the Lions, and certainly has the potential to grow into that kind of player as the season progresses.
Headed into the first week of OTAs, I'll be on the lookout for how Detroit offensive coordinator Ben Johnson deploys the big-bodied tight end. Additionally, I'll be keeping tabs on how he looks catching passes from Goff. If he can use OTAs to start developing a rapport with Detroit's starting signal-caller, it will only enhance the type of chemistry they have throughout the upcoming season.
RB Jahmyr Gibbs
There are some Detroit fans already worried about the durability of the Alabama product, after he failed to practice on Day 2 of rookie minicamp. He had tweaked his ankle on Day 1, which caused him to be held out of practice the following day. However, it was only precautionary, so it's hardly worth freaking out about, Lions fans.
In OTAs, Gibbs will have an opportunity to showcase the dynamic weapon that he truly is. He has the capability of lining up both in the backfield and as a receiver, so it'll be fascinating to me to watch how Johnson deploys the former Crimson Tide back in his offense.
Expect Gibbs to excite as he takes the field during this present phase of the Lions' offseason regimen.
WR Marvin Jones Jr.
Jones is back for a second stint in Detroit. He previously starred with the Lions from 2016-2020, recording three 900-plus-yard receiving campaigns during that time.
Now at 33 years old, I don't expect him to produce as prolific of numbers. However, he'll still be relied upon for a decent amount of production, especially during the first six games of the upcoming season (with Jameson Williams suspended). He could end up being Goff's No. 2 target during that stretch of time. So, it'd be nice to see the duo mesh during OTAs and build a connection that is in top-notch shape come the start of the regular season.
RB David Montgomery
Another one of Detroit's offseason additions, Montgomery will be expected to be the Lions' bell-cow back in 2023. He'll be relied upon to replace Jamaal Williams' production from a season ago, and there is hope among the team's fanbase that he will do just that.
During OTAs, I'll be closely watching how Montgomery and Gibbs play off one another, plus how many carries the two get. Will it be close to an even distribution, or will there be a large disparity in the number of snaps that Montgomery logs compared to Gibbs?
Subsequently, OTAs will be a good gauge of how valuable of an asset Montgomery will be in Detroit's offense.
G Halapoulivaati Vaitai
Can Vaitai stay healthy in 2023? He failed to suit up for a single game during the 2022 campaign, so there is certainly no guarantee that he will remain healthy during the upcoming season.
He enters the 2023 season on the last year of his contract, so his future in Detroit is definitely in jeopardy. And now, he has to worry about a pair of offseason additions, Graham Glasgow and Colby Sorsdal, stealing snaps from him.
So, it will be ultra critical for Vaitai to be on the field and to appear healthy during these upcoming weeks and months of preparation for 2023 – and starting in OTAs this week.
