Potential returns of familiar faces seems to be a recurring theme for the Detroit Lions lately.
First it was former Lions corner Darius Slay who said that the Lions are one of the two teams he would want to play for next season.
Now there is another former Lion whose return appears to be a possibility.
Earlier this week, NFL.com’s Matt Okada named former Lions guard Jonah Jackson a potential cut candidate for the Los Angeles Rams.
Former Detroit Lions guard Jonah Jackson
Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
With Jackson’s Rams future up in the air, AtoZ Sports’ Mike Payton urged the Lions to urge their former guard if he becomes available.
The Lions drafted Jackson in the third round of the 2020 draft and he immediately became an important part of their offensive line.
He started all 16 games as a rookie. In his second season he was named a Pro Bowler.
He remained the starter for the following two years before he hit free agency. His strong four seasons with the Lions earned him a hefty contract on the free agent market.
His three-year, $51 million contract with the Rams put him in the top 10 for highest paid guards in the NFL.
Unfortunately, the signing didn’t work out for the Rams in 2024.
Jackson was only available for four regular season games because of an injury.He allowed nine pressures in those four games.
Now Jackson the Rams could decide to move on from him and the timing could work out for a return to the Lions.
When he left, the Lions signed Kevin Zeitler to a one-year deal to replace him. Zeitler put together a solid season in Detroit, but is now heading for free agency and could have a strong market.
If Zeitler leaves, bringing Jackson back to reclaim his spot on the offensive line would make a lot of sense to maintain continuity on the line.
They currently have Christian Mahogany on their roster as a potential replacement for Zeitler, but he has just two career starts. That could leave the Lions looking for a veteran to lean on while Mahogany continues to develop.
His injury issues over the past few seasons are certainly a concern, but Jackson has proven he can be a strong piece of this offensive line and likely wouldn’t put much of a dent in the team’s available cap space.
Jackson needs to be let go first, but if the Rams decide to move on from him, it wouldn’t be a big surprise to see Jackson back in Detroit.
