The Detroit Lions had a void at wide receiver when DJ Chark signed with Carolina in free agency. They've filled it with a familiar face.
The Lions agreed to a one-year contract with veteran wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr., who spent five seasons with the team from 2016-2020.
Jones said Wednesday after signing the deal that he made the decision to sign in Detroit after consulting his family on vacation in Belize. Jones lives on the west coast, and said if he wasn't going to play for a west coast team there was only one other option in his book. His family agreed.
"I kind of always had a feeling because I think that this team is better equipped than any other team that I was considering and it's home for me," Jones said. "Really, it was an easy choice. I made it in Belize, too. It was pretty cool."
Jones said he loves the coaching staff and front office, and the culture they are building here in Detroit. He also loved the fact that GM Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell made it clear in free agency they really wanted him here.
Jones, 33, caught 46 passes for 519 yards and three touchdowns last season with the Jaguars. He caught 289 passes for 4,296 yards and 36 touchdowns in his previous five seasons in Detroit.
Jones will undoubtedly help take some of the pressure off losing Chark because of his ability to catch the deep ball and make plays in traffic.
"I think we're both excited," Jones said of initial conversations he's had with Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. "Obviously, he's seen me play, he's seen me practice and stuff, we know each other very well. The initial conversation is just competing. You know I'm a competitor and I love getting out there and competing no matter what.
"In terms of my role in the offense, I'm going to compete and I'm going to do the same things that I know how to do. That's go up and get the ball. Wherever he needs me, I'll be in that position."
Jones joins Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Josh Reynolds, Kalif Raymond, Quintez Cephus and others to help round out a pretty versatile and deep receiver room in Detroit.
View photos of Detroit Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr.
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. (11) celebrates after catching a pass in the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. (11) walks off the field during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022, in Jacksonville, Fla. Jaguars defeated the Cowboys 40-34 in overtime. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. (11) celebrates with quarterback Trevor Lawrence after Jones caught a pass from Lawrence in the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. (11) catches a pass during an NFL football game against the Houston Texans on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. (11) looks to run past Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II (2) during an NFL football game at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022. The Denver Broncos defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 21-17. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. (11) walks off the field after an NFL football game defeating the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. (11) catches a pass between Houston Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. (24) and linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin (44) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. (11) runs a pass route during an NFL football game against the Houston Texans on Sunday, January 1, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/Matt Patterson)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. (11) cathches a pass during an NFL wild-card football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars defeated the Chargers 31-30. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. warms up before NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. (11) runs onto the field for an NFL wild-card football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. (11) walks off the field after an NFL wild-card football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars defeated the Chargers 31-30. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. (11) catches a pass in the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown in front of Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marcus Peters (24) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. catches a pass for a 33-yard gain as Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie (21) defends during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. (11) in action during an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars defeated the Titans 20-16. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. (11) during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 in Detroit. The Vikings defeated the Lions 37-35. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. (11) during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 in Detroit. The Vikings defeated the Lions 37-35. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. (11) scores a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020 in Chicago, IL. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. (11) during a NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020 in Glendale, AZ. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. (11) during an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020 in Charlotte, NC. (Detroit Lions via AP).
"They have great talent on the team, which I'm excited about," Jones said. "I'm just happy to come here and fill any role they need me to fill as well as still be me and making those plays at Ford Field. I think that's what makes me most excited."
Jones said there was one other matter that needed to be discussed after settling on the destination. Jones said a family vote determined he would be wearing No. 0 in Detroit with No. 11 already taken by Raymond.
