Detroit Lions 2022 offensive preview: Sizing up 4 Lions pass-catchers

The Detroit Lions open the regular season Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles. Here are three storylines on offense that will define the season.

Is this a make-or-break year for Jared Goff?

It sure feels that way. The Lions have invested a ton in their offense this season in an effort to surround Goff with the type of talent he needs to succeed in the NFL. They have one of the best offensive lines in football, an emerging young receiver in Amon-Ra St. Brown, a mismatch running back in D’Andre Swift, a bright, young coordinator in Ben Johnson and more help on the way in Jameson Williams.

Goff struggled mightily in the first half of his first season in Detroit but found his footing after a change in play caller at midseason. He threw 11 touchdown passes with two interceptions and posted a 101.8 rating in his final six starts, when the Lions went 3-2-1. Goff spent hours working with Johnson this offseason to construct a new playbook, and he has looked noticeably more comfortable — and been more willing to throw the ball downfield — in training camp this summer.

The Lions are counting on Goff, with an assist from Johnson, to recapture the magic he showed in 2018, when he helped the Los Angeles Rams reach the Super Bowl. If Goff fails, the Lions have a clear financial out after this season — they’d be left with a manageable $10 million in dead cap if they cut Goff next March — and two first-round picks to address the position in the 2023 NFL draft.

How good can the offensive line be?

The Lions have not shied away from the expectation they will have one of the best offensive lines in football this fall. They have three first-round picks at the key positions of left tackle (Taylor Decker), right tackle (Penei Sewell) and center (Frank Ragnow), a Pro Bowl left guard in Jonah Jackson and good depth built up from their injury woes last season.

Decker’s health remains something to monitor. The Lions managed his workload this summer as he dealt with the lingering effects from a 2021 foot injury. But if he’s on the field, he and Ragnow give the Lions two reliable veteran pass protectors who double as bullies in the run game.

Historically, teams that have good offensive lines are among the best in the NFL. Of Pro Football Focus’ top-seven-ranked lines last season, six made the playoffs and one belonged to the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams. The Lions finished 13^th in PFF’s 2021 rankings, so their standing for this season is a lot of projection. But the unit is deep enough and talented enough to help the offense shine if it has even reasonably good health.

What can we expect from Jameson Williams this fall?

Williams was arguably the most talented receiver in this year’s draft, but he fell to the No. 12 pick, where the Lions traded up to get him, because of a torn ACL he suffered in Alabama’s national championship game loss to Georgia in January. The Lions, wisely, are proceeding carefully with Williams’ rehab as they view him as a long-term piece for their offense and are less worried about his near-term contributions.

Williams will miss at least the first four games of the season on the nonfootball injury list and the expectation is he returns somewhere around midseason. He was not able to practice with the team in training camp and will need a ramp-up period once he’s ready to go. Throw in the physical challenges that come with being a 180-pound rookie in the NFL and the fact he’ll need to develop a rhythm with Goff while learning the playbook and it’s best to temper expectations for Williams this fall.

That said, don’t discount what Williams can bring to the offense once he is healthy. Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase, two of the best receivers in the NFL, put up huge numbers their rookie season, and last year Baltimore Ravens rookie Rashod Bateman finished with 46 catches for 515 yards in 12 games after missing the start of the season because of groin surgery. Williams may play behind St. Brown, DJ Chark and Josh Reynolds when he first returns, but he’s too talented to stay a role player for long.

3 newcomers to watch

WR DJ Chark: The Lions set out this offseason to add a vertical threat to their offense and left free agency content with getting Chark on a one-year deal. Chark made one Pro Bowl appearance in four seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, but missed most of last season with a broken ankle. He did not catch a pass or have a target in 37 preseason snaps, but he did make a mid-camp surge where he looked like he could be a legit deep threat for Jared Goff after a slow start. Chark should play a more varied role in the Lions receiving corps than he did in Jacksonville. If he stays healthy, he could threaten the numbers he put up in 2019 (73 catches, 1,008 yards, eight TDs).

TE James Mitchell: Mitchell had an abbreviated training camp in his return from October knee surgery, but the Lions think highly enough of the rookie fifth-round pick that they kept him on their 53-man roster as the No. 4 tight end. Mitchell is unlikely to play much early in the season behind Hockenson, Brock Wright and Shane Zylstra. He’s a dual-purpose threat, though, so he could work his way into No. 3 tight end snaps by the midpoint of the season.

WR Josh Reynolds: OK, so Reynolds is not technically a newcomer, but the Lions return nearly every offensive contributor from last season and are not counting on much help from new faces in 2022. A midseason addition last fall, Reynolds will play a more prominent role on offense now that he’s been around for a full year. He enters the season as the Lions’ the No. 3 receiver and his longstanding relationship with Goff — the two spent four years as teammates in L.A. — should lead to some big games. Extrapolating his production from seven games (five starts) with the Lions last season, Reynolds is in line for a 47-catch, 744-yard, five-touchdown season.