Who Steps Up When the Injury Bug Bites Again?
Just when you thought the Lions might catch a break, here comes the familiar sting of a torn ACL. Rookie wide receiver Kendrick Law, the speedy product the Lions traded up to grab in the draft, is done for the season before it even starts. Because of course he is.
Now we’re back to square one at the WR4 spot, and honestly? This might be more interesting than it should be.
The top three are locked down. Amon-Ra St. Brown is an All-Pro. Jameson Williams has that deep speed that makes defensive coordinators lose sleep. Isaac TeSlaa has carved out his role. But that fourth spot? That’s where things get messy in the best possible way.
The Reunion Tour
Greg Dortch spent the last three seasons catching passes from Drew Petzing in Arizona, so there’s obvious chemistry there. He can return punts, he knows the system, and he’s a logical replacement for Kalif Raymond’s role. The downside? He’s basically a slot-only guy, and St. Brown already owns that real estate for roughly half the offense’s snaps.
Still, familiarity breeds opportunity. Petzing knows exactly what Dortch can do, and that counts for something in a league where trust is everything.
The Project Players
Dominic Lovett was a seventh-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft who spent his rookie season learning the ropes and running down kicks. He was active on special teams for 12 games without recording a reception. He’s got legitimate 4.4 speed and can line up anywhere, but at 5-foot-10 and 185 pounds, he needs that natural twitch that separates good small receivers from practice squad guys. The Lions kept him around all season for a reason though.
Jackson Meeks almost made the roster as an undrafted rookie in 2025 after a strong preseason, but depth is a cruel mistress. He spent the year on the practice squad, getting elevated for just two games. At 6-foot-2 and 213 pounds, he’s got the size to play outside and the versatility to line up at tight end when needed. That flexibility could be his ticket.
The Lifer
Tom Kennedy is entering his eighth season in Honolulu Blue. Eighth. That’s longer than some players’ entire careers, and he’s caught exactly 18 passes in 30 games over that span. But here’s the thing about Kennedy: coaches trust him. He shows up, he knows his assignments, and he found a role on special teams that got him promoted from the practice squad for the final six games of the year.
Sometimes reliability beats raw talent, especially when you’re talking about a fourth receiver who might get five targets all season.
The Wild Cards
Don’t sleep on the long shots. Malik Cunningham is still hanging around after converting from quarterback. Cedrick Wilson Jr. got added after the draft as veteran insurance. Kyre Duplessis was signed as an undrafted free agent specifically after Law got hurt.
Any of them could surprise, but this feels like it comes down to Dortch, Lovett, or Meeks.
The smart money is probably on Dortch because of the Petzing connection, but this Lions coaching staff has a track record of finding diamonds in the developmental rough. Maybe it’s time for Lovett to show that speed on Sundays. Maybe Meeks’ size and versatility finally gets rewarded.
Or maybe Kennedy just outlasts everyone again because football is weird like that.
Who do you think wins the WR4 battle, and does it even matter if this receiving room stays healthy? Drop your prediction below before someone else gets hurt.
