Amon-Ra St. Brown is on the verge of setting more Detroit Lions rookie history.
St. Brown, a fourth-round pick out of USC, needs 15 yards in Sunday’s season finale against the Green Bay Packers to break Roy Williams’ franchise record for most receiving yards by a rookie.
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Williams, the Lions’ first-round pick in 2004, had 817 yards on 54 catches in his first season in Detroit.
St. Brown has 803 yards on 82 catches through 16 games this season. He broke Jahvid Best’s franchise record for most receptions by a rookie last month.
“It’s the first time I’ve heard about this record, but hoping obviously that he breaks it,” Lions quarterback Tim Boyle said. “It’ll be a special moment for him, but he’ll only grow and build off that, which is the special part. He’s not going to say, ‘I did this my rookie year. I’m good to go. I’ve arrived.’ He’ll keep working. But definitely special to be a part of it.”
St. Brown, the reigning NFC Offensive Rookie of the Month, has been one of the most productive receivers in the NFL the past month with 43 catches for 451 yards and five touchdowns (including one rushing) in the past five games.
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He has at least eight receptions in five straight games, the longest streak for a rookie in the Super Bowl era, and is coming off the first 100-yard game of his career.
“It’s special, it really is,” Boyle said. “As you guys have heard me rave about him and probably every coach and every player rave about him, he deserves everything that’s coming his way, I truly believe that. He puts in the work. We just got off the practice field and who was out there catching JUGS for 10 minutes? It’s Amon-Ra St. Brown. He’s making sure that he’s doing all the little things that he needs to do.”
Inspire change
The Lions announced seven grants Friday totaling $468,000 they are awarding to local organizations as part of their Inspire Change initiative established after the 2018 season.
The grants will help support and fund programs in three target areas: Criminal justice reform, education and youth initiatives.
“It is important for us as Lions players to understand who we represent beyond just game days,” Lions fullback Jason Cabinda said in a statement released by the team. “We represent Detroit. We have a true responsibility to give back and help lift the community around us. It means a lot to us as a team to continue this initiative and help these deserving organizations make a difference in our city.”
The grants will be awarded to:
• The Detroit Lions Academy, to provide services to help students dealing with academic and personal challenges get back on grade level.
• The Detroit Justice Center, to support youth programming and “Know Your Rights” sessions.
• The Downtown Boxing Gym, to support college and career readiness programs.
• The Empowerment Plan, to provide employment and support services for the homeless.
• The Family Assistance for Renaissance Men (F.A.R.M.), to expand mentoring services and provide child support assistance for single fathers.
• The Pure Heart Foundation, to provide mental health programming.
• And the Scholastic Book Fairs, to provide free books to youth in Detroit.
Injury update
Cabinda was listed as out on Friday’s injury report. Offensive lineman Jonah Jackson, tight end Brock Wright, defensive lineman Michael Brockers, wide receiver Josh Reynolds and linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin are questionable.
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.