The Detroit Lions opened the season looking like one of the NFC’s strongest contenders, but recent inconsistency has pushed them to the edge of the playoff picture. After a brutal Thanksgiving loss, Detroit now sits at 7–5, a far cry from the Super Bowl expectations that surrounded the franchise over the past two years.
Adding to their troubles, star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown suffered an ankle injury on Thanksgiving, leaving the offense without its most reliable weapon and forcing the Lions to search for help elsewhere.
Lions Bring Former Falcons Receiver For Workout
Detroit entered the Thanksgiving matchup already short-handed at wide receiver, with Kalif Raymond unavailable. With Amon-Ra St. Brown now also sidelined, the Lions’ receiving corps has thinned considerably heading into their Week 14 showdown with the Dallas Cowboys.
Isaac Tesia, Jameson Williams, and Sam LaPorta will likely serve as the team’s top three pass-catching options. Behind those starters, however, the depth is questionable, prompting Detroit to bring in multiple players for workouts on Monday, including former Atlanta Falcons wideout Russell Gage.
Gage, 29, was selected in the sixth round out of LSU by Atlanta in 2018 and made the Falcons’ 53-man roster as a rookie. He spent all four seasons of his rookie deal in Atlanta, recording 193 receptions for 2,065 yards and nine touchdowns.
In 2022, Gage signed a three-year, $30 million contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He appeared in 13 games during his first season there, posting 51 catches for 426 yards and a career-high five touchdowns. But his momentum was halted in 2023, when he suffered a ruptured patellar tendon and was later released by Tampa Bay.
Since then, Gage has spent time on the Ravens and 49ers practice squads, appearing in just one NFL game. Over his career, he has totaled 244 receptions, 2,491 yards, and 14 touchdowns.
While there are understandable concerns regarding his rust and injury history, Gage has proven to be a productive receiver when healthy, and production is precisely what Detroit needs with St. Brown expected to miss at least two weeks.
St. Brown leads the Lions in receptions, yards, and touchdowns this season, hauling in 75 catches for 884 yards and nine scores. He also ranks fourth in PFSN’s WR Impact metric, earning an impressive 87.9 rating.
Following their loss to the Packers on Thanksgiving, the Lions have dropped three of their four divisional games, and their remaining schedule does not favor them. The offense must find a way to compensate for St. Brown’s absence, and if Gage can provide immediate help, Detroit should strongly consider signing him to a one-year deal.
