Update: Lions WR Kenny Golladay making 2020 debut against Cardinals
Sep 25, 2020, 1:27 PM | Updated: Sep 27, 2020, 10:44 am
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kenny Golladay runs a drill at the Lions NFL football practice, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
(AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
The NFL’s leading touchdown man from the wide receiver position in 2019 will make his season debut on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals.
The news about Kenny Golladay came from NFL.com reporter Ian Rapoport on Sunday morning, providing a bit of good news for an 0-2 Lions squad.
After a strong week of practice, #Lions top WR Kenny Golladay (hamstring) is set to make his 2020 debut vs. the #AZCardinals, source said. He was listed as questionable.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 27, 2020
Whether Golladay will look like the same receiver who recorded 1,190 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns last year is to-be-determined.
A hamstring injury has hampered Golladay, keeping him from the first two games of 2020, and he’s hopeful about gutting it out in a safe manner this week at State Farm Stadium.
“Man, God willing, I’m going to to try everything in my power to be out there with the guys,” Golladay told reporters Friday.
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The 6-foot-4 receiver went through practices this week in a limited fashion and said he’s feeling a lot better. He is listed on the Lions’ official injury report as questionable to play in Week 3.
“Wouldn’t say it’s 100%, I really wouldn’t even put a percentage on it,” Golladay said of his status. “I just know I’m not 100%. Like I said, I’m going to do everything I can and hopefully I showed enough (in practice this week) that I can be out there.”
The Lions receiver, who missed time due to a hamstring issue as a rookie in 2017, said he’s learned how to listen to his body better since then. Ongoing contract negotiations might have pressed him into being even more cautious about a similar injury this year.
How the Cardinals plan for Golladay’s presence and how much he’s involved in the gameplan remained up in the air Friday, even as it was clear he could be in line to make his season debut.
Cornerback Patrick Peterson suggested Arizona was in wait-and-see mode to determine whether he would shadow the Lions’ top receiver.
This will be Golladay’s fourth career appearance against the Cardinals.
Last year in a Week 1 opener at State Farm Stadium, Golladay was targeted nine times and made four catches for 42 yards and a touchdown against an Cardinals defensive back group that included rookie Byron Murphy, second-year man Chris Jones and nickel Tramaine Brock.
Golladay’s NFL debut came against Arizona in 2017. The third-round pick caught two touchdowns and had 69 yards on Sept. 10, 2017. In his second meeting with Arizona, he had two catches for five yards matched up against the Cardinals.
