The Josh Reynolds saga in Denver has come to a premature end. The Broncos released the former Lions starting wide receiver from their injured reserve list on Tuesday.
Reynolds has been out since Week 5 with a finger injury, though he was also the victim of a shooting while he was on Denver’s I.R. The Broncos had to release Reynolds by Wednesday or else he would have finished the season on the I.R.
The move to Denver did not go well for Reynolds. He caught just 12 passes in five games before getting hurt and then shot.
The question becomes, would Reynolds be welcomed back to Detroit? He was a prominent receiver over the prior two-plus seasons, starting 29 games and catching 97 passes from former Rams teammate Jared Goff. The Lions effectively replaced Reynolds’ role in the offense with Tim Patrick, who ironically didn’t make the Broncos in part because of Denver signing Reynolds.
However, Kalif Raymond is out with a foot injury that could extend into the postseason. Veteran Allen Robinson has just two catches in eight games. Reynolds’ familiarity with Ben Johnson’s complex offensive system could prove to be an asset. The health status of Reynolds could also be a factor in any potential reunion with Detroit.