Might be expendable

Jones (knee) may be considered expendable after Kenny Golladay broke out for 1,063 yards in 2018, Nate Atkins of MLive.com reports.

Analysis: Jones is coming off an injury-shortened season with a team that's trying to move toward a run-first offense, yet he still seems like a pretty good fit in Detroit, where he'll be entering the fourth season of a five-year, $40 million contract without much talent behind him at wide receiver. While the reasonable contract gives him some value on the trade market, it would be easier for the Lions to simply keep him around as a reliable No. 2 receiver alongside Golladay. The team seemingly expects…read more

Out for rest of season

The Lions will place Jones (knee) on injured reserve, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis: There was some hope Jones could return from a two-game absence to play Week 13 against the Rams, but he'll instead be ruled out for the rest of the season, leaving Bruce Ellington, TJ Jones, Andy Jones and Brandon Powell as Detroit's complementary wide receivers behind Kenny Golladay. While coach Matt Patricia declined to elaborate on the nature of Jones' injury, the team likely will provide more information at a later date. The 28-year-old finishes 2018 with 35 catches for 508 yards and five…read more

Chance to return in Week 13

Jones (knee) won't play Thursday against the Bears, but he has a chance to return to action against the Rams on Dec. 2, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Analysis: Jones has been dealing with a bone bruise in his knee, but it looks like the receiver's absence may be limited to two games, with his Week 13 playing prospects bolstered by the added healing time the Lions' current short week will afford him. With Jones out Thursday, look for TJ Jones and Andy Jones, along with Bruce Ellington (assuming he plays through back issue) to see added work in the Detroit passing game behind top option Kenny Golladay.

Officially ruled out

Jones (knee) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Bears, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.

Analysis: Jones hasn't been able to practice in any capacity the past two weeks while recovering from a bone bruise in his knee. It's an unpredictable injury that could lead to missed time beyond Week 12, though a return for Week 13 against the Rams wouldn't come as a major surprise either. Kenny Golladay is a clear favorite to lead the Lions in targets during the Thanksgiving Day game, with TJ Jones, Bruce Ellington (back) and Andy Jones all providing support.

Absent from practice again Tuesday

Jones (knee) was not a participant in Tuesday's practice, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Analysis: After missing Sunday's contest against the Panthers, Jones doesn't seem to be moving toward playing Thursday having logged a pair of DNPs to open the week. He would likely need to show progress in practice Wednesday to have a chance of returning to the field for the Thanksgiving Day matchup with the Bears.

Listed as non-participant

Jones (knee) is listed as a non-participant on Monday's estimated practice report, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Analysis: Given that he didn't come close to playing in Sunday's 20-19 win over Carolina, the veteran wideout doesn't seem especially likely to return for Thursday's game against the Bears. With top running back Kerryon Johnson (knee) also shaping up as a long shot, the Lions likely will be short on offensive weapons for the difficult matchup. Jones is recovering from a bone bruise in his knee and didn't practice at all last week.

Officially ruled out for Week 11

Jones (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Panthers, Kyle Meinke of MLive.com reports.

Analysis: Jones didn't practice at all this week and is scheduled to get a second opinion on what was initially reported to be a bone bruise in his knee. He may be dealing with a more serious injury, though an earlier MRI ruled out damage to his ACL or MCL. The Lions are left without much help behind Kenny Golladay at wide receiver, with Theo Riddick potentially playing more slot while TJ Jones fills in for Marvin Jones outside. The team might also find some snaps for Bruce Ellington and/or Brandon…read more

Getting second opinion for knee issue

Jones is scheduled to receive a second opinion on the knee injury he suffered in the second half of Sunday's 34-22 loss to the Bears, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis: The Lions haven't commented on the specifics surrounding Jones' injury, but Adam Schefter of ESPN reported Tuesday that the wideout was being viewed as day-to-day after sustaining a bone bruise in his knee rather than any damage to his ACL or MCL. While Schefter's report suggests Jones isn't at risk of a long-term absence, the 28-year-old may be presently dealing with some significant pain. He failed to practice in any capacity Wednesday and Thursday and wasn't spotted on the field for the…read more

Not practicing Friday

Jones (knee) isn't present for the open portion of Friday's practice, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.

Analysis: Absent from the practice field for a third straight day, Jones doesn't seem likely to play in Sunday's game against the Panthers. Another update on Jones will come within the next few hours when the Lions release their final Week 11 injury report.

Not seen at practice Thursday

Jones (knee) wasn't present for the portion of Thursday's practice that was open to the media, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.

Analysis: The bone bruise Jones suffered in Sunday's 34-22 loss to the Bears remains a concern heading into a Week 11 matchup with the Panthers, as the injury has sidelined him for back-to-back practices. The Lions will see if Jones is able to take the field in some capacity during their final session of the week Friday, but the wideout appears destined to carry an injury designation into Sunday's contest. The release of the Lions' final injury report will clarify whether Jones is listed as questionable,…read more

Misses practice with knee issue

Jones (knee) was listed as a non-participant at Wednesday's practice, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.

Analysis: Jones tried to return to Sunday's 34-22 loss to the Bears after suffering a bone bruise in the third quarter, but he ultimately wasn't able to play through the injury and had to sit out late in the game. While fortunate to avoid ligament damage, the 28-year-old wideout is no lock to be ready in time for the Lions' Week 11 game against the Panthers. Detroit may have little choice but to pepper Kenny Golladay with targets.

Diagnosed with bone bruise

Jones (knee) has been diagnosed with a bone bruise, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Analysis: Jones is considered day-to-day after tests showed his ACL and MCL are intact, but this is still an injury that threatens his availability for Week 11 against Carolina. He was removed late in the third quarter of Sunday's 34-22 loss to Chicago, finishing with three catches for 55 yards on seven targets. The Detroit passing game will run through Kenny Golladay if Jones misses any time, with TJ Jones, Bruce Ellington and Brandon Powell all candidates to take some of the vacated snaps.

Three receptions before early exit

Before exiting with a knee injury late in third quarter of Sunday's 34-22 loss to the Bears, Jones brought in three of seven targets for 55 yards.

Analysis: Jones generated a team-high 18.3 YPC on the afternoon before his exit. The veteran receiver suffered the injury late in the third quarter on an unsuccessful catch attempt down the sideline over Bears cornerback Kyle Fuller, and he did not return to the contest as Detroit tried to mount a comeback. Further details are likely forthcoming regarding the severity of the injury, which is of paramount concern to a Lions squad that just traded Golden Tate to the Eagles at the trade deadline.

Picks up knee injury Sunday

Jones (knee) is questionable to return to Sunday's game at Chicago, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Analysis: The Lions picked up injuries to offensive stalwarts in the second half of this game -- also, running back Kerryon Johnson (ankle) -- leaving the team woefully thin at the skill positions. If Jones remains sidelined, Detroit's wideout group will be whittled down to Kenny Golladay, TJ Jones and Brandon Powell.

Gets 66 yards in Week 9 loss

Jones caught six of eight targets for a team-high 66 yards in Sunday's 24-9 loss to Minnesota.

Analysis: Jones has topped 60 receiving yards in back-to-back weeks after exceeding that mark only once in his first six games. With Golden Tate now plying his trade in Philadelphia after a trade deadline deal, Jones and Kenny Golladay should both see increased roles in Detroit's passing game against the Bears in Week 10 and beyond.

To benefit from trade of Tate

Jones will continue to operate as an outside receiver following the trade of Golden Tate to the Eagles, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM Radio reports.

Analysis: For most of this season, Jones worked in the shadow of Tate and second-year wide receiver Kenny Golladay, surpassing 60 yards just one time during the first six games. However, Jones bounced back this past Sunday against the Seahawks, hauling in seven of 10 passes for 117 yards and two touchdowns. The trade of Tate opens up nearly 10 targets per game, ensuring more consistency for Jones and Golladay moving forward.

Strikes twice against Seahawks

Jones caught seven of 10 targets for 117 yards and two touchdowns during Sunday's 28-14 loss to Seattle.

Analysis: Jones put Detroit on the scoreboard late in the first quarter, running past his defender up the sideline on a scramble drill for a 39-yard touchdown. Jones set season highs in catches, targets, yards and touchdowns in what has been a down year for him given the emergence of Kenny Golladay. One big game shouldn't change your perception of Jones, though he does get another favorable matchup next Sunday against a Minnesota pass defense ranked in the bottom half of the league in opponent yards per…read more

Quiet in Miami

Jones secured three of four targets for 29 yards during Sunday's 32-21 victory over Miami.

Analysis: No Lions receiver was very productive on a day quarterback Matthew Stafford attempted just 22 passes, especially during a game in which reserve tight end Michael Roberts was given the majority of red-zone targets. However, this wasn't the first time Jones has failed to make an impact this season, and the veteran still hasn't reached 70 receiving yards in any single contest in 2018. With both Golden Tate and Kenny Golladay earning more targets than him to boot, Jones is nothing more than a…read more

Grabs third touchdown of season

Jones secured one of four targets for an eight-yard touchdown during Sunday's 31-23 victory over the Packers.

Analysis: Not only are Jones and quarterback Matthew Stafford still having trouble connecting on deep passes, but Jones is also starting to look like Stafford's clear No. 3 read after Golden Tate and Kenny Golladay, who saw seven and nine targets, respectively. There is a bright side, though: Jones has still seen at least one red-zone target in every game this season. Furthermore, Jones didn't look bothered by the ankle injury that precipitated his appearance on this week's injury report. The veteran…read more

Active Week 5

Jones (ankle) is active for Sunday's game against the Packers.

Analysis: A late-week addition to the injury report with an ankle issue, Jones will ward it off and suit up versus a Green Bay defense that has allowed 7.3 YPT and six touchdowns to wide receivers through four games. With a catch rate of just 51.7 percent this season, though, he's reliant on the big play to post a respectable line.

Expected to play Sunday

Jones (ankle), who is listed as questionable on the official injury report, is expected to play Sunday against Green Bay, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Analysis: Jones was a late addition to the practice report as he was a limited participant at Friday's practice. It sounds like he'll play, but double check his status before Sunday's 1 p.m. ET kickoff.

Added to injury report

Jones was a limited participant at Friday's practice due to an ankle injury and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Packers.

Analysis: The end-of-week addition is somewhat worrisome, suggesting Jones suffered an injury during practice either Thursday or Friday. A follow-up report on Jones' status should become available prior to Sunday's 1 p.m. ED kickoff. TJ Jones would join Kenny Golladay and Golden Tate in three-wideout formations if Jones were to end up missing the contest.

Makes three catches in loss to Cowboys

Jones caught three of five passes for 56 yards during Sunday's 26-24 loss to the Cowboys.

Analysis: Jones made an excellent lunging catch for a 34-yard gain in the second quarter, but he turned his other two receptions into just 22 yards en route to another modest output. He continues to garner attention from Matthew Stafford, but Kenny Golladay's emergence on the outside has eaten into his usage rate this season. Jones is still on pace to flirt with 1,000 receiving yards over the course of a full campaign, but his productivity could suffer from time to time due to the other options around…read more

Snags touchdown in upset victory

Jones caught four of six targets for 69 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's 26-10 victory over the Patriots.

Analysis: While he continued to receive a slightly lighter workload than Golden Tate (eight targets) and Kenny Golladay (seven), Jones was the most efficient of the bunch Sunday, and -- just like last week -- Jones could have had bigger numbers had quarterback Matthew Stafford not overthrown him in the end zone. The seventh-year wideout is yet to top four receptions in a game this season, but Jones' 47-percent catch rate could be in store for positive regression considering it's 10 percentage points less…read more

Will play Sunday

Jones (ankle) is listed as active Sunday against the Patriots, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.

Analysis: The Lions tacked Jones onto the final Week 3 injury report with an ankle injury, which capped his practice reps Friday. No matter, he'll be available to Matthew Stafford in this matchup with the defending AFC champions. Jones' target share and offensive snap count rank behind both Golden Tate and Kenny Golladay this season, so he seems to be losing some of his clout within the Lions' passing attack.

Could be available Sunday

The Lions are optimistic that Jones, who was added to the injury report Friday with an ankle issue, will be available for Sunday's game against the Patriots, sources informed Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Analysis: Jones' ankle will be monitored carefully throughout the day, with the wideout's activity in pregame warmups likely dictating whether or not he garners active status. While Jones seems to be trending in the right direction, the fact that he's not a lock to suit up makes him a risky lineup choice, especially with clarity on his availability (or lack thereof) not likely to come until the Lions release their inactive list approximately 90 minutes before the 8:20 p.m. EDT kickoff.

Questionable for Sunday

Jones (ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game versus the Patriots.

Analysis: Making a surprise appearance on the final Week 3 injury report, Jones was a limited practice participant Friday due to an ankle injury. As a member of the sixth-ranked pass offense, he's fourth on the team in targets with 17, which has translated to eight catches for 108 yards and one touchdown through two games. Aside from the injury, more worrisome is Jones' lack of big plays. With one catch of 20-plus yards, he sits third among Lions' receivers behind Kenny Golladay (four) and Golden Tate…read more

Earns nine targets

Jones caught four of nine targets for 54 yards and one touchdown during Sunday's 30-27 loss to the 49ers.

Analysis: Like last week, Jones could have put up bigger numbers had quarterback Matthew Stafford not overthrown him on a pair of downfield bombs that likely would have gone for touchdowns. More concerning is the fact Kenny Golladay, who also earned nine targets Sunday, continues to siphon away from Jones' workload. Both receivers have taken a clear backseat to Golden Tate, who's earned over a dozen looks in each of the first two games of the season, but Jones now trails Golladay, 17 to 21, in targets.…read more

Outdone by Golladay in season opener

Jones caught four of eight targets for 54 yards during Monday's 48-17 loss to the Jets.

Analysis: Meanwhile, Kenny Golladay secured seven of 12 targets for 114 yards. This is not what fantasy owners wanted to see after an offseason of worrying that Golladay may significantly eat into Jones' workload -- though no one expected that the youngster would ever pace all Lions receivers in playing time as he did Monday. However, it's still premature to jump ship on the veteran, as Jones easily could have had a much, much bigger night had he secured a number of catchable bombs that bounced off his…read more

Finishes quiet preseason

Jones caught one of two targets for 12 yards in Friday's preseason game against Tampa Bay.

Analysis: Though he didn't have much impact statistically, Jones stayed on the field for nearly every snap until Matthew Stafford was pulled from the game. The 28-year-old likely will be held out of Detroit's final exhibition contest, finishing the preseason with three catches for 26 yards on seven targets. Jones should pick up some steam in a Week 1 home game against the Jets.

Shaky in second preseason game

Jones corralled two of five targets for 14 yards during Friday's preseason game against the Giants.

Analysis: Jones probably should have caught one or two more of the balls thrown his way, but it's also fair to question the quality of those passes he saw from a hurried Matthew Stafford that was consistently under pressure Friday. Drops weren't a huge problem for Jones last season, considering the wideout was ticketed with only four of them on 105 targets according to Pro Football Focus. Don't be surprised if he bounces back in the Lions third preseason game next Friday against the Buccaneers, when…read more

Returns to practice

Jones (leg) returned to practice Sunday, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Analysis: Jones left Saturday's practice with some sort of injury to his left leg. According to Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site, the receiver returned Sunday in full pads, suggesting he didn't experience anything severe. Jones will try to continue his impressive start to training camp, where Kyle Meinke of MLive Media Group indicated that Jones has been unguardable early on.

Suffers left leg injury during practice

Jones appeared to sustain an injury to his left leg during Saturday's practice, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.

Analysis: Jones banged his left knee following a stellar catch in practice. The Lions will likely take a cautious approach given Jones' value to the offense. If the veteran wideout is forced to miss just a few practices it shouldn't affect his status for a Week 1 contest against the Jets.

Jones led the league with 467 receiving yards and 25.9 yards per catch on contested targets last season, according to Pro Football Focus.

Analysis: Jones isn't the best at sprinting past defenders or jumping over them, but his impressive route running and ability to stay focused in traffic have allowed for above-average efficiency dating back to his time in Cincinnati. With the help of impressive accuracy from Matthew Stafford on deep throws, Jones posted elite marks for yards per catch (18.0) and yards per target (10.2) last season. The continued development of Kenny Golladay could take a few deep looks away from Jones, but there should…read more

Jones, who trained with former NFL receiver Randy Moss in North Carolina last offseason, plans to do so again in 2018, Kyle Meinke of MLive.com reports.

Analysis: Jones has been a solid downfield threat for the Lions since coming to Detroit in 2016, but he took his game to new heights in his second season with the team, progress he partially credits to working with Moss over the summer. Jones said the two focused on improving Jones' route running, particularly on "winning at the top of the route." While other factors regarding his success were certainly in play, the tutelage seemingly benefitted Jones in some capacity when considering he went on to lead…read more

Jones caught four of five targets for 81 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's 35-11 victory over Green Bay.

Analysis: Jones scored for the ninth time this season on a short fade route in the corner of the end zone and concludes the year having averaged 83.4 receiving yards while hitting paydirt seven times in his final 11 games. He now finishes the 2017 campaign with 61 receptions on 107 targets for a career-high 1,101 receiving yards. Entering his third year working with quarterback Matthew Stafford, the 2012 fifth-rounder has shown to be a consistently dangerous downfield threat -- his 18.0 yards per…read more

Jones caught three of five targets for 50 yards during Sunday's 26-17 loss to the Bengals.

Analysis: Jones finished fourth on the team in targets in this one and did little outside of a 31-yard gain in the third quarter. Although Jones disappointingly finished with three catches for the third straight week, this performance does help to illustrate how consistent he's been this season, as he now has at least 50 receiving yards in 10 of the last 11 games. The Lions are now eliminated from playoff contention, but Jones could still cap off what's been a solid season with a big outing next week…read more

Jones caught three of five targets for 85 yards during Saturday's 20-10 victory over the Bears.

Analysis: Jones highlighted his day by snagging a 58-yard bomb from a scrambling Matthew Stafford halfway through the second quarter. The Cal product made two other grabs in the first half but didn't do anything at all thereafter as, with Detroit up 20-3 for most of the second half, the Lions didn't need to lean on their downfield threat often. Looking forward, Jones could be a sneaky fantasy play in Week 16 against a Bengals team that recently lost Adam Jones (groin) to injured reserve and is currently…read more

Jones brought in three of four passes for 64 yards in Sunday's 24-21 win over the Buccaneers.

Analysis: Jones played a complementary role alongside Eric Ebron and Golden Tate, who combined for 18 catches on 20 targets. However, he did make one of his trademark downfield contributions, hauling in a 38-yard throw from Matthew Stafford (hand) in the first half. Jones has seen his yardage totals drop after each of the last two games, but he's now just 115 yards away from his first 1,000-yard season. He'll look to keep building toward that goal against the Bears in Week 15.

Jones caught four of eight receptions for 90 yards during Sunday's 44-20 loss to the Ravens.

Analysis: Jones didn't do much of anything early on in the game thanks to suffocating coverage by Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith. However, once Smith exited the game with an Achilles injury, Jones went to work, hauling in two passes of 40-plus yards on rookie Marlon Humphrey. After catching just one pass of that distance during the first 10 games of the season, Jones has now caught three in the past two weeks while seeing his YPC rise to 16.6 -- the ninth-highest mark among qualifying receivers. He'll now…read more

Jones caught six passes on nine targets for 109 yards and two touchdowns during Sunday's 30-23 loss to the Vikings.

Analysis: Jones dominated one of the best secondaries in the league despite having arguably the toughest matchup assignment of all Lions receivers, that being Vikings 2016 Pro Bowl corner Xavier Rhodes. His first score came on a mid-range post pattern that barely broke the plane of the goal line, while his second was much more impressive, as the lanky veteran beat double coverage to haul in a 43-yard bomb. Jones, who entered Thursday's game tied for the third-highest touchdown mark in the league (six),…read more

Jones grabbed four of seven targets for 85 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's 27-24 win over the Bears.

Analysis: Jones burned Chicago deep in the second half, laying out for a 28-yard touchdown as part of Detroit's 21-point second-quarter explosion. It was Jones' fourth touchdown in his last five games. During that streak, he's also topped 85 yards in four games. The red-hot target comes up against a stiff test next week against a Vikings squad that held him to two catches in Week 4.

Jones caught one of two targets for 22 yards during Sunday's 38-24 victory over the Browns.

Analysis: Jones' two targets tied for the lowest he's seen all season and corresponds with rookie Kenny Golladay's return from a hamstring injury. Coming off a three-week stretch in which Jones found the end zone three times while averaging 12 targets and 110.3 receiving yards per game, many fantasy owners were likely expecting a bigger game in such a favorable matchup. However, with Golladay back in the fold, Jones isn't the Lions' only deep threat anymore. Thus, Jones could continue to see fewer…read more