Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown turned in a career year last season despite battling several injuries.
St. Brown stars in the new Netflix series, “Receiver.” The show reveals he suffered an oblique injury in Week 3 against the Atlanta Falcons after injuring his toe against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2.
St. Brown suited up in the Lions’ following game against the Green Bay Packers on “Thursday Night Football” but dealt with immense pain.
“It’s too late for me not to play. The game plan’s in,” St. Brown said, via Pro Football Talk’s Josh Alper. “Painkillers is something that I really don’t like to take unless it’s the Packers.”
After catching seven passes for 56 yards and one touchdown in a 34-20 victory, St. Brown had an MRI. Per CBS Sports’ Shanna McCariston, doctors told him he completely tore his oblique “off [of] the bone.” Lions head coach Dan Campbell rested him in Week 5 against the Carolina Panthers to avoid worsening the tear.
St. Brown’s struggles didn’t end there. He was diagnosed with hand, foot and mouth disease ahead of a Week 8 win against the Las Vegas Raiders.
“[I had] a mask on my face so nobody could see what my face was looking like, cause it looked bad,” St. Brown said, per The Detroit News’ Nolan Bianchi. “I’m running on needles. Catching the ball hurt, everything was just hurting at that point.”
First-team All-Pro St. Brown still managed to play in 16 games, logging career highs in receptions (119), receiving yards (1,515) and TD catches (10). The Lions rewarded him with a four-year, $120.01M deal this offseason.
St. Brown displayed elite toughness last season, but the Lions would prefer he stays healthy. The 24-year-old is integral to their passing attack and could help them win their first Super Bowl.