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The Detroit Lions wide receiver depth chart took another hit on Sunday, so here are three available options they could sign.
The Detroit Lions’ two significant wide receiver free agent signings last offseason, Tyrell Williams and Breshad Perriman, haven’t worked out. Perriman didn’t even make it to Week 1 before being cut, and Williams has not played since suffering a concussion in Week 1.
There’s a chance Willliams will come off IR this week, but that won’t be confirmed for a few days. Quintez Cephus is likely out for the season after suffering a collarbone injury against the Vikings in Week 5, which left Khalif Raymond, Amon-Ra St. Brown, KhaDarel Hodge and Trinity Benson as the Lions’ available wide receivers.
Even if Williams comes off IR and is able to play against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 6, the Lions’ need to consider their options for an in-season outside addition at wide receiver.
3 wide receivers the Detroit Lions could sign
3. Golden Tate
Tate took some days as one of the part-time fill-ins for the departed Nate Burleson on NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” recently, professing (when asked or otherwise prompted) that he was ready to play if a team called him.
Tate of course played for the Lions from 2014-2018, before a midseason trade to the Philadelphia Eagles. He had at least 90 catches in all four of his full seasons in Detroit, and spent the 2019 and 2020 seasons with the New York Giants.
At 33 years old, Tate would surely prefer to sign with a playoff contender should one have a need. But maybe, if those options don’t surface soon, he’d consider coming back to the Lions as a veteran mentor who can still get it done.