Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones take a leave of absence for family reasons

Marvin Jones Jr. (All-Pro Reels Photography, Wikimedia Commons)

According to Colton Pouncy of the Athletic on Tuesday, Detroit Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. of Los Angeles, California announced on Tuesday in an Instagram Post that he is “stepping away from the team to take care of personal family matters.” On the same day after making the social media statement, the Lions made the decision to release Jones Jr. according to Grant Gordon of nfl.com.

In six games this season, Jones Jr. had five catches for 35 yards. He had multiple catch games against the Kansas City Chiefs on September 7 (two catches for eight yards) in a 21-20 Lions win and against the Carolina Panthers on October 8 (two catches for 22 yards). Interestingly, Jones Jr. was inactive against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, a game the Chiefs were clobbered by a score of 38-6.

Jones Jr. returned to Detroit this season after two seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was previously with the Lions from 2016 to 2020. Jones Jr. began his National Football League career with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2012, and spent another season in Cincinnati, before missing the entire NFL season with an ankle injury.

Where Jones Jr. was best known for was his yards per reception. It has been an impressive 13.6 yards per catch in his career. While with the Lions in 2017, Jones Jr. actually led the NFL with 18 yards per catch.

The Lions meanwhile will try to bounce back after their 32-point loss to Baltimore. They lead the NFC North at five wins and two losses, and have the second best record in the conference. Luckily for Detroit, Amon-Ra St. Brown has been brilliant at the wide receiver position. He has 51 catches for 557 receiving yards and three touchdowns after six games.

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