Lions move on from Pro Bowl free agent
The Detroit Lions are moving on from one of the team’s offensive weapons in the 2022 season. Wide receiver D.J. Chark found a new home on Friday, as the 2019 Pro Bowler signed a one-year deal with the Carolina Panthers, per Ian Rapoport. The Lions took a shot on Chark last season after he spent […]
The Detroit Lions are moving on from one of the team’s offensive weapons in the 2022 season.
Wide receiver D.J. Chark found a new home on Friday, as the 2019 Pro Bowler signed a one-year deal with the Carolina Panthers, per Ian Rapoport.
The Lions took a shot on Chark last season after he spent four seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Detroit dished out a one-year contract worth $10 million in an attempt to elevate the passing game.
Chark’s physical attributes jump off the page, and it’s easy to see why the Jaguars spent a second-round pick on him in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Unfortunately injuries have kept him from reaching his true potential. In 2022, Chark played in 11 games and recorded 30 receptions for 502 receiving yards and three touchdown catches.
Chark’s ankle forced him to injured reserve and kept him sidelined for six games. It’s the same ankle that sidelined Chark for 11 games in his 2021 campaign in Jacksonville.
The Lions will need to find another possession receiver to replace Chark’s six-foot-four frame on the outside. There are plenty of options in the 2023 NFL Draft who fit the bill. In possession of two first-round picks, it wouldn’t be much of a surprise if Detroit selects a pass catcher on Day 1 of the draft.
