By Sunday 
Sometimes in the NFL, all a guy needs is a little change of scenery—and maybe a head coach who actually knows his name. That seems to be the case for a former Detroit Lions wide receiver, who’s apparently about to go from depth chart afterthought to key contributor on his new team.
And yes, he might still be refreshing the Lions’ Instagram, waiting for someone to say, “Hey, good for you, buddy.”
Detroit Let Him Walk… Now He’s Walking Into a Bigger Role
The wideout in question (whose name you probably yelled at your TV once or twice) was never quite the guy in Detroit. Maybe it was injuries, maybe it was scheme, or maybe it was just the fact that the Lions’ WR room in recent years has been more stacked than a Thanksgiving plate.
Either way, his production was modest. His snaps were limited. His chances were scarce.
Fast-forward to today: he’s wearing a new jersey, joining a new offense, and—according to several reports—could take on a “significant role” this season. Somewhere, a Lions fan is squinting at their screen like, “Wait, is that…?”
Revenge Tour Loading?
Let’s not get carried away. We’re not saying he’s about to drop 1,300 yards and win Comeback Player of the Year. But you know he’s going to have at least one big game where he catches two touchdowns and Lions Twitter has to relive all those “we gave up on him too soon” takes.
And you just know that game will be in prime time. Because the NFL schedule gods are messy like that.
Detroit Shrugs, He Glows Up
The funny thing is, this isn’t even about whether the Lions were wrong. Sometimes players just don’t fit the puzzle. But it’s hard not to chuckle at how often these guys leave, get a clean slate, and suddenly look like WR1 material.
Meanwhile, back in Allen Park, Dan Campbell is probably too busy chewing his own kneecap off to notice.
So, About That Instagram Story…
As he gears up to become a surprise breakout star, we imagine this ex-Lion is quietly enjoying the irony. He’s about to play a huge role for a team that really needs him—and the team that drafted him? Still hasn’t texted back.
It’s fine. He’s fine. Everything’s fine.