Who is currently trending toward being the No. 4 receiver on this Detroit Lions football team coming out of camp?
"We're waiting for somebody to step forward," Lions head coach Dan Campbell said Monday when asked about it. "We're waiting for any one of those guys to step forward."
The best competition in camp right now is for the No. 4 and possibly No. 5 receiver spots on the initial 53-man roster. Who will ultimately emerge behind Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and Kalif Raymond?
Daurice Fountain, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Kaden Davis, Isaiah Williams and others are competing for it but no one has really separated themselves from the pack just yet. Fountain had a really good start to camp, but has been dealing with a minor injury of late and had a couple drops during Monday's practice, one in the end zone that ended up losing the drill for the offense.
Isaiah Williams had a really nice preseason debut last week against the Giants, leading the team in receiving with four catches, but offensive coordinator Ben Johnson said earlier in camp they'd ideally like to have some size from that No. 4 spot. Williams is 5-foot-10, 186 pounds.
The team traded for Peoples-Jones at the deadline last year, and he's had some nice moments in camp of late, but he's also disappeared for stretches over the last few weeks.
"DPJ I felt like has been, since the game (last week vs. Giants), much better," Campbell said. "He's playing faster and I notice it, we all notice it. So that's encouraging."
In eight games with the Lions last season after coming over in a trade from Cleveland, Peoples-Jones had five receptions for 58 yards. He's got the size (6-2, 204) and experience the Lions are looking for in that role after losing Josh Reynolds in free agency.
"I think this is just a great competitive environment," Peoples-Jones said after Monday's practice. "It definitely helps everybody elevate their game, elevate the coaching, elevate everything that's going on, which is why I think this is a great program and great team."
Peoples-Jones said he's working hard to be a consistent playmaker and that has flashed a little more over the last two days of practice. He had a really nice deep touchdown grab in a one-on-one period with rookie Ennis Rakestraw Jr. in coverage on Monday. He made a great move to shake himself loose for a touchdown on Sunday against Brian Branch.
View photos from Day 13 of Detroit Lions training camp on Monday August 12, 2024.
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive back Brian Branch (32), Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14), Detroit Lions cornerback Khalil Dorsey (30) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Craig Reynolds (13), Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Daurice Fountain (12), Detroit Lions cornerback Kindle Vildor (29) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (97) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Zonovan Knight (27), Detroit Lions guard Jake Burton (67) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki (33) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Daurice Fountain (12) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond (11), Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki (33) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions Assistant Head Coach/Running Backs Coach Scottie Montgomery during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kaden Davis (88) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive back Brian Branch (32) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive back Brian Branch (32), Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Maurice Alexander (1) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions punter Jack Fox (3) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9), Detroit Lions cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (15) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions Offensive Coordinator Ben Johnson during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Craig Reynolds (13) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond (11) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates (43), Detroit Lions punter Jack Fox (3) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond (11), Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions punter Jack Fox (3), Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates (43) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Khalil Dorsey (30) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Ben Niemann (51), Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5), Detroit Lions defensive back Brian Branch (32) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones (19) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Khalil Dorsey (30), Detroit Lions wide receiver Jalon Calhoun (80) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Zonovan Knight (27) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
"We're dying for somebody to step up and say 'Hey man, I'm the guy. I'm the guy you can depend on. I'll be the same consistent player every day and find a way to make the plays that come my way,'" Campbell said.
The Lions could look to see who becomes available at wide receiver from the 31 other teams when the league roster trim happens, so the next two weeks are going to be really important for these receivers to step up and show Campbell and the Lions they can be counted on consistently.
