Even casual NFL fans have a pretty good understanding that the Detroit Lions cast of wide receivers is not among the strengths of the team. With Tyrell Williams out for weeks with a concussion, the most recognizable wide receiver on the Detroit roster is second-year Quintez Cephus. And now Cephus is out with a broken collarbone.
Despite the relative lack of impact talent at wide receiver, the Lions continue to lean heavily on deploying three wide receivers as their base offense. Through the first five games, Detroit has run 11 personnel (1 RB, 3 WRs, 1 TE) on 68 percent of its offensive snaps, per Sharp Football. That’s well above the league average of 58 percent in Sharp’s tracking.
It’s reflected in the Lions’ snap counts. Three receivers have played in over 60 percent of the team’s offensive snaps on the season, led by Kalif Raymond at 71.5%. Fourth wideout Trinity Benson has been on the field for 138 snaps, 10 more than No. 2 running back Jamaal Williams. No. 2 tight end Darren Fells has played just 112 and fullback Jason Cabinda is at 52 through five games.
Interestingly, the Lions have yet to run a single snap with four wide receivers on the field, per Sharp. The reliance on 11 personnel is less pronounced when the game margin is seven points or less. In those situations, coordinator Anthony Lynn’s Lions run with three wideouts 49 percent of the time, below the league average of 56 percent.
By way of comparison, the Lions were in three-wide sets 66 percent of the time in 2020 when the team had a more talented receiving corps.