Marvin Jones Jr. returned to Detroit last season. Now he's returning for real.
The veteran wide receiver has agreed to a one-year, $3 million deal with the Lions, reuniting with the team he played for from 2016-20. The deal is worth up to $5 million in incentives, per reports.
Jones, 33, spent the last two seasons with the Jaguars. His production dipped last season to 46 catches for 529 yards and three touchdowns -- all career-lows since his rookie year -- but he'll give the Lions a strong No. 3 receiver to join Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams in an offense that should be back among the NFL's best.
The Lions return Josh Reynolds and Kalif Raymond as well.
Jones had an impressive first stint in Detroit, racking up nearly 300 catches for over 4,000 yards and 36 touchdowns over five seasons. That included a 1,000-yard season in 2017 and nearly another in 2020. He's a solid red zone threat who can also stretch the field, which makes him a natural replacement for free agent departure DJ Chark.
The Lions had collapsed by the time Jones departed as a free agent after the 2020 season, ushering in the new regime. When the Jaguars came to Detroit last season, Jones was welcomed warmly at Ford Field. After the game, a 40-14 win for the Lions, he said, "This will always be my home."
Now he's coming home, to help a team on the rise.
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