His use was unclear for a long time, but then star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown came up trumps for the Detroit Lions against the Dallas Cowboys. Head coach Dan Campbell and quarterback Jared Goff bow to the German-American, who also set an NFL record.
Just a few days before the NFC clash between the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys in Week 14 of the NFL, things looked bleak as to Amon-Ra St. Brown’s chances of playing.
The German-American suffered an ankle injury in the Thanksgiving game against the Green Bay Packers, missed the rest of the game and was unable to practice until Tuesday.
But against the Cowboys, St. Brown was there – and delivered. “No matter what our record was, whether we were undefeated or undefeated, I would have done anything to be there,” St. Brown said. “Just to be there for my boys.”
The 26-year-old caught six of nine passes for 92 yards, only Jameson Williams had more receiving yards at Detroit with 96. He could once again be relied on, especially in critical situations. On the last Lions drive, he caught a play-action pass on 2nd & 9, brought the ball into the redzone – and Jahmyr Gibbs put the lid on the game with his touchdown.
With 511 caught balls in his first five NFL seasons, St. Brown also set a record against Dallas and overtook Michael Thomas, who previously held the record with 510 catches in his first five seasons.
Amon-Ra St. Brown: “That’s what I get paid for”
Take a break to protect your own body? Not for St. Brown. “I think availability is ultimately the most important thing, so my job is to go out there, make plays and be on the field. That’s what I’m paid to do, so I was willing to do whatever it took to be there,” he said.
An attitude that also impresses head coach Dan Campbell. “He is unsurpassed. Someone like that is really rare. His attitude simply prohibits him from failing. Nothing will tell him where he goes, what he does or how it will be. He will decide for himself what he will do,” emphasized the head coach.
And quarterback Jared Goff also praised his favorite passing station highly. “He’s developing into the player we always knew he could be. He’s as reliable as all the guys I’ve played with. Whether it’s the third attempt or the fourth attempt, he delivers and makes the plays,” he clarified.
