On Wednesday, the Detroit Lions hosted the Miami Dolphins for their first joint practice ahead of their home preseason game at Ford Field this Saturday. The Lions clearly outperformed the Dolphins on both offense and defense, with several standout players, particularly wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, making a strong impression. This session confirmed Detroit’s preparedness and highlighted St. Brown’s continuing development as a key offensive weapon.

St. Brown’s Exceptional Skills Displayed Against Miami’s Defense

Amon-Ra St. Brown, who joined the Lions after playing for the USC Trojans, proved to be the highlight of the practice. He excelled during one-on-one drills, repeatedly outmaneuvering Miami’s defensive backs. Notably, St. Brown left Dolphins cornerback Jack Jones off balance multiple times, including twice in red zone scenarios that ended with touchdowns. This demonstration of precision route running and sharp catching skills has been characteristic of St. Brown’s play throughout his NFL tenure.

How the NFL Draft Slide Fueled St. Brown’s Determination

Despite his current elite status, St. Brown’s rise was driven, in part, by the disappointment of being overlooked during the 2021 NFL Draft. Selected only in the fourth round with the 112th overall pick, the wide receiver used this as motivation to excel. He keeps a notebook listing all the wide receivers picked ahead of him as a constant reminder to prove those teams wrong. His career achievements reflect this drive, including 4,851 receiving yards and 33 touchdowns. Aside from his rookie year, he has posted three seasons with over 1,000 receiving yards.

St. Brown’s connection with Lions quarterback Jared Goff has been a foundation of Detroit’s recent success, helping the team secure back-to-back NFC North titles and two playoff game victories. Their combined effort contributed to an impressive 15-2 regular season record in 2024, revitalizing a franchise that had long struggled.

St. Brown’s Personal Accolades and Team Impact

On a personal level, Amon-Ra St. Brown’s performances earned him First Team All-Pro honors in both 2023 and 2024. He has emerged as one of the NFL’s most reliable wide receivers and remains Goff’s favored target. His skill set and leadership continue to elevate the Lions’ offensive game and provide hope for Detroit fans seeking a return to prominence.

Looking Ahead: The Quest for Detroit’s First Super Bowl

As the 2025 season approaches, the Detroit Lions and Amon-Ra St. Brown have one clear objective: to bring the franchise’s first Super Bowl title to Detroit. After suffering a tough NFL Divisional Round loss to the Washington Commanders, the team enters this year with renewed determination and motivation to prove doubters wrong. Many critics believe the Lions’ Super Bowl window is narrowing, but with St. Brown’s leadership and relentless work ethic, Detroit aims to demonstrate that their championship aspirations remain very much alive.

“Amon-Ra St. Brown beat Jones on two straight red zone drills, which resulted in touchdowns.” —Unnamed source
“He has a notebook that lists every wide receiver that was drafted before him, and it seems to have worked.” —Unnamed source
“The former USC wideout has been arguably Lions quarterback Jared Goff’s most reliable and favorite target on offense.” —Unnamed source