Amon-Ra St. Brown injury should lead Lions to target newly available wide receiver originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Detroit Lions have a massive problem at wide receiver and that should lead to the team targeting a player who is newly available.

The Lions have a problem at the position thanks to the ankle injury wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown suffered on Thursday, which leaves his status up in the air moving forward.

“So that's the good news, but that doesn't mean it won't be here for, could be a week or two maybe, if we're lucky,” head coach Dan Caampbell said of St. Brown's injury.

With St. Brown injured, the Lions should seriously consider adding former Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen, who the team is set to waive, it revealed on Monday.

Here's more details on St. Brown's injury, as well as why Thielen was waived and why the Lions should target him.

Amon-Ra St. Brown injury diagnosis

Injury diagnosis: Low-ankle sprain
Return timeline: Week to week

According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, St. Brown is dealing with a low-ankle sprain that has him considered week to week.

“Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown is believed to have suffered a low ankle sprain Sunday, sources say, and while he continues to be evaluated, it’s good news so far on his chances for returning sooner than later,” Pelissero wrote.

“At this point, Amon-Ra St. Brown is not expected to land on IR and likely will be week-to-week as the Lions enter the stretch run,” Pelissero added.

That leaves the door open for St. Brown to miss at least one game, although we know that St. Brown will push to play and he's tough enough to not miss any time.

If he does miss any time, it's bad news for a Lions team that is currently on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoffs. Detroit enters Week 14 in the No. 8 spot in the conference and in third place in the NFC North.

Why Vikings released Adam Thielen

The Vikings announced on Monday that they are waiving Thielen, who has requested to be cut loose in order to seek a bigger role. Minnesota also revealed that Thielen plans to retire after this season.

“Last week, Adam's representation approached the team and asked if we would be willing to release Adam, expressing his desire to play a bigger role in the remaining weeks of what he has indicated will be his final NFL season. Following discussions through the weekend and out of respect for Adam, we have agreed to give him the opportunity to pursue more playing time elsewhere. Adam is one of the all-time great Vikings, and we wish him and his family continued success,” the Vikings wrote.

Thielen saw the field for just 185 snaps (29%) over 11 games and caught eight balls for 69 yards, which amounts to the worst production of his career.

Lions should target Adam Thielen

The Lions can't target Thielen outright, as he must go to waivers first. But they should at least put in a claim for him given the injury to St. Brown.

It's also worth noting that fellow wideout Kalif Raymond is dealing with an injury that leaves the Lions even more short-handed at wide receiver.

Granted, Thielen isn't the same receiver he once was at 35 years old, but he is one year removed from a 2024 campaign in which he tallied an impressive 615 yards in just 10 games with the Carolina Panthers, who traded him to Minnesota in August.

At the very least, Thielen offers another experienced and versatile body to lend a helping hand to No. 2 wide receiver Jameson Williams if St. Brown misses time.

Thielen has played 44.7% of his career snaps in the slot and 54.7% out wide, so he won't be blocked from seeing the field upon St. Brown's return and can have a sizeable role.

It's rare to have an opportunity to add a receiver with the kind of experience that the veteran brings to the table this late in the season. With their injuries at wide receiver, the Lions should pounce.