Marvin Jones Jr., who previously had a successful five-year stint with the Detroit Lions, is back home and roaring. Following a productive two years with the Jacksonville Jaguars, the veteran wide receiver is keen to replicate his previous success with the Lions. His consistency in the blue and silver, shown by his 36 touchdowns and 4,296 yards in just 69 games, still resonates with Lions fans.

On the “Twentyman in the Huddle” podcast, hosted by detroitlions.com lead writer Tim Twentyman, Jones expressed excitement about his return to Detroit, a sentiment shared by many Lions supporters.

Anticipation is mounting, as the Lions are now seen as potential contenders for the NFC North title. “There is definitely a big buzz, a buzz that I haven’t really seen here. But I love it, because that just means it’s a challenge… I think the team is ready for that challenge. Everybody is ready for that challenge. The city is. It’s just up to us because we have that potential,” Jones remarked.

And on the topic of bringing a division championship to Detroit, Jones simply stated, “It would be insane.”

Drawing Parallels to Jacksonville Jaguars

Jones’s experience in Jacksonville offered him a valuable perspective, which he believes can contribute to the Lions’ trajectory. He sees similarities between the paths of the Lions and the Jaguars, both being teams teetering on the brink of contention. The Jaguars’ home playoff victory last year remains a fresh memory, and Jones is enthusiastic about the possibility of similar success for the Lions.

Detroit is HOME for Marvin Jones Jr. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/PnQC7RjWVU

— Woodward Sports Network (@woodwardsports) June 7, 2023

During his podcast interview, Jones showered praise on Lions’ offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and wide receiver coach Antwaan Randle El. He praised Johnson’s football acumen and foresight, stating he’s “a bright guy… when you talk to him you definitely can see (his trajectory), he’s where he’s supposed to be… just a brilliant mind.”

About Randle El, he commented, “he played at a high level, you know, he has a Super Bowl ring. He’s been through it. He knows what it takes to get there…when you have that type of experience it goes a long way, especially in developing young players.”

With such guidance and a blend of veteran and young talent, Marvin Jones believes the Lions are on the cusp of achieving something great this season.

Mentoring Future Stars

Jones’s optimism for the team extends to his younger teammates, notably Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams. Describing St. Brown’s “crazy” work ethic and leadership potential, and Williams’s speed and eagerness to learn, Jones showed his readiness to mentor these rising stars. He reminisced about his early career days in a young WR room with AJ Green and Mohamed Sanu, emphasizing the importance of such mentorship in shaping younger players.

Talking about St. Brown, Jones said, “his work ethic is crazy. He has a crazy work ethic, and that’s something I admire about him… it’s great to have someone like that in the group.”

About Williams, he shared:

the sky is the limit for him… it’s hard to overthrow him, but you know, if it does happen he is going to sell out for it and he’s doing everything to make the play. He wants to be in that position to make the big play for the team. He asks questions, he’s doing everything right now that he needs to do to be a great player…and that speed, you can’t teach that.

The veteran wide receiver is confident in the Lions’ offensive potential, with coaching talents like Ben Johnson and a strong lineup of players at all positions. However, he continually underscores the need for continued work and effort, despite the promising outlook. As Marvin Jones returns to Detroit, he brings his experience, wisdom, and commitment to the Lions.

Check out the full interview below!