It was too bad wide receiver Kenny Golladay's season ended with him leaving the game in the first half due to a concussion and not returning.
He was injured after catching a 42-yard pass in the second quarter that would help set up Detroit's second touchdown. It was Golladay's 13th reception of 30-plus yards this season, tied for the most in the NFL.
Golladay was slow to get up and taken to the locker room for evaluation before it was determined he did in fact suffer a concussion.
Golladay caught three passes for 72 yards in Detroit's 23-20 loss to Green Bay Sunday. He finishes the year with 65 grabs for 1,180 yards and a league-leading 11 touchdown receptions.
It's the kind of season that could find Golladay playing in the Pro Bowl later next month, depending on what happens in the postseason and with injuries. Golladay is currently the third alternate for the Pro Bowl.
The former third-round pick out of Northern Illinois has become one of the bright, young pass catchers in the NFL, and could be up for discussion for a contract extension this offseason heading into the final year of his rookie deal in 2020.
He's been one of the bright spots for the Lions all season long.
NICE MESSAGE
Not that Darius Slay needs any more confidence in his abilities, but the Lions' three-time Pro Bowl cornerback got a nice compliment after the game from Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who will probably go down as one of the best to ever play the position.
Rodgers and Slay exchanged jerseys after the game, and Rodgers wrote that Slay was "one of the greatest in this generation" on his jersey to Slay and thanked Slay for making him a better player.
Slay made his third straight Pro Bowl this season, and is considered one of the best cover corners in the NFL. Slay has always considered Rodgers one of the best quarterback he's ever played against, so consider it mutual respect.
MOMENT OF SILENCE
The Lions family was hurting this weekend after the news that wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr.'s infant son, Marlo, passed away this weekend.
The Lions held a moment of silence in remembrance of Marlo before the game, and Jones and his family were in attendance and on the sideline for the moment.
The Lions played with heavy hearts Sunday, and multiple players and coaches said they wanted to win the game very badly for the Jones family.
"Everybody was definitely inspired, wanted to play for our family that was hurting, to tell you the truth," quarterback David Blough said. "We just came out and we were playing hard and guys were executing well, and it's a bummer that we couldn't finish it. But the guys were definitely playing inspired, obviously. We've been thinking about Marvin and his family a ton."
Lions head coach Matt Patricia said everyone in the organization had Jones in mind this weekend.
"Marvin is a very special person," he said. "His family is a wonderful family. He and Jazmyn are great people and my heart is so saddened for them right now. I was very happy to see him today."
EXTRA POINT
- The Packers beat the Lions twice this season without ever leading on the scoreboard for a single second in regulation. Green Bay won both games on game-ending field goals.
