EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Free Press sports writer Dave Birkett looks at Detroit Lions players and coaches who helped their stock or hurt it after the 20-17 win vs. the New York Jets on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
Stock up
PR Kalif Raymond
Lions coach Dan Campbell gave Raymond a game ball, not just for his first career punt return but for everything else he means to the team. Raymond scored the game’s first points on a 47-yard punt return when his blockers gave him clear passage to the end zone. He also caught five passes for 53 yards on a day when offense wasn’t easy to come by. Pro Bowl votes are already in, but some of Raymond’s teammates were stumping for his selection after his big game Sunday.
DE Romeo Okwara
Okwara is the Lions’ latest feel-good story after he had two sacks in his second game back from the torn Achilles tendon he suffered 14 months ago. After a rusty return last week, Okwara showed he still has the pass rush ability that made him a priority to re-sign when Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes took over in 2021. The Lions haven’t been great at getting to opposing quarterbacks this season, but with Okwara and James Houston IV, who had his fifth sack in four games Sunday, joining Aidan Hutchinson, John Cominsky and Josh Paschal in the lineup, they have enough to cause problems for opposing offenses the rest of the way.
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TE Brock Wright
Wright had one catch, his first in two weeks, but it was a big one – a 51-yard catch-and-run touchdown that propelled the Lions to victory. When the Lions traded T.J. Hockenson to the Minnesota Vikings seven weeks ago, they insisted they were comfortable with the leftovers they had in their room in Wright, rookie James Mitchell and Shane Zylstra. Wright has two touchdowns since the trade, has been a key part of the Lions’ rushing success and got open Sunday by selling a run block fake that the entire Jets defense bought hook, line and sinker.
Stock down
Evan Brown
Brown was rusty in his return to action after a three-game absence due to a high ankle sprain. On one second quarter scoring drive, he drew a holding penalty that wiped out a Jamaal Williams touchdown run, and two plays later was flagged for another hold that negated a D’Andre Swift run inside the 5. Brown is the Lions’ best option at right guard, and some of his mistakes – he also got beat for a near-sack by Sheldon Rankins – can be chalked up to his time off. But he’ll have to clean up his play for the Lions to remain in playoff contention going forward.
54-yard field goals
As a rule, Campbell should pass on all 54-yard field goal attempts from now till the end of time. Austin Seibert missed a 54-yarder in Week 3 to give the Minnesota Vikings the short field they needed to rally for the game-winning touchdown, and Michael Badgley was short on his 54-yard try Sunday to give the Jets the short field they needed to take a short-lived lead. Campbell probably should have gone for it on fourth-and-5, or punted and pinned the Jets deep, up 17-13. If not for Wright’s touchdown, the Lions would be regretting their coach’s decision to kick again.
QB Zach Wilson
Given a shot at redemption after he was benched in November for poor play and a lack of accountability, the Jets quarterback did little to convince anyone he has a future in New York. Wilson completed 18 of 35 passes for 317 yards, but he threw a bad interception that led to three Lions points, and was lucky to get away with several other careless throws. His top receiver, rookie Garrett Wilson, was visibly frustrated with his quarterback at times, and the Jets will have to bench their former No. 2 overall pick again once Mike White is healthy if they want to stay in the playoff hunt.
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.