The loss of a player like Calvin Johnson is never insignificant, but the Lions' 2016 receiving corps is doing an impressive job of filling the holes Johnson may have left when he retired.
"No one thought we would be where we are right now. He's missed. You can't even replace a talent like that, but we all knew we had to step up to get the same production," tight end Eric Ebron said after Wednesday's practice.
With four games still left to play, Ebron is already closing in on 500 total receiving yards and is on pace to surpass last season's numbers.
Wide receiver Anquan Boldin was signed by the Lions back in July. He's an NFL veteran, but was new this offense. Quarterback Matthew Stafford says he's fit in just fine.
"Since Day 1. It was pretty incredible just how he jumped right in. I didn't know if he was going to take a couple weeks [to adjust, but] he's practicing with first string offense Day 1," said Stafford.
Boldin has more than 400 total receiving yards already as well as six touchdowns this season.
Wide receiver Golden Tate is not new -- this is his third season in Detroit -- but had a slower start to the season. Tate had a total of 95 yards in his first four games this year, but is now at 762. He's had two 100-yards-plus games this season including last week's win over the Saints in which he caught for 145 yards and a touchdown.
