Marvin Jones Jr. returned to Detroit for one more season with the Lions, but it hasn't gone as planned.
The Lions released the veteran receiver Tuesday, with Jones announcing via Instagram that he's "stepping away from the team to take care of personal family matters." Jones and his wife Jazmyn have five children, all under the age of 15, and the family lives in California.
"Although this was no easy decision, I can’t be the person/player that I need to be for this team as well as tend to my family from afar," said Jones.
Jones, the oldest receiver in the NFL this season at the age of 33, didn't travel for the Lions' loss to the Ravens last week due to personal reasons. He had just five catches through five games.
He signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the Lions this offseason to return to the team and the city where he'd played from 2016-2020, calling Detroit his second home: "I talked to my family and I was like, 'OK, if I’m not gonna play on the West Coast, the only team that I will go play for is Detroit."
The reunion just hasn't worked. In his statement Tuesday, Jones professed "love and respect for the Ford Family, the city of Detroit, my teammates and coaches."
"This organization has been amazing showing love and support for myself and my family over the years and this time is no different," he said. "For that I am appreciative. To my brother and coaches, I will be rooting for you every step of the way! This is the year! Go get it!!!"