Kenny Golladay is unlikely to be on the field for the Detroit Lions when they host the Washington Football Team in Week 10. The big wideout has a hip injury that also kept him sidelined in Week 9.
The hip injury won’t help Golladay overcome the dubious distinction of being the NFL’s worst wide receiver at creating separation on routes. Golladay gets less open than any other wideout on an average route, based on data from Next Gen Stats.
Golladay averages 1.8 yards of separation per route run. That figure ties him with Cincinnati’s A.J. Green for the lowest average. But Green starts with less average cushion. Golladay gets 5.6 yards of cushion on average, while Green faces more presses and jams at his 4.8-yard cushion. Defenses know Golladay won’t separate after his release, so they see no need to jam him. He also finished dead last in average separation per route in 2019 at 1.9, per Next Gen Stats.
Getting separation is not how Golladay wins. He uses his size, strength and the chemistry he’s developed with QB Matthew Stafford to make contested catches in tight throwing windows. There might not be anyone better at that than Golladay.
On the season, Golladay has caught 20 passes on 32 targets, netting 338 yards and two TDs. He also had two drops and has missed three games.
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