Lions' Marvin Jones: Dominates in preseason loss

Jones caught four passes for 65 yards on five targets in Thursday's preseason loss to the Bengals.

Analysis:

Jones came out with a dominant opening drive, first making a beautiful 32-yard sideline catch, and then fighting through an illegal contact penalty for a 19-yard gain on the following snap. Detroit's next play was a quick slant to Jones, who evaded the first tackler and picked up five yards. The Lions first-team offense ultimately played just three drives, with Jones and Golden Tate (3-41-0) accounting for nine of the 11 targets and 106 of the 113 receiving yards. Granted, the Lions didn't have pass-catching TE Eric Ebron (leg) or lead back Ameer Abdullah (shoulder). Still, it's hard not to be encouraged by Jones' first two showings in a Lions uniform, as he's caught five passes on four drives and is clearly Matt Stafford's top deep option. Even if Tate, Ebron, Anquan Boldin and Theo Riddick account for the vast majority of short targets, Jones figures to get plenty of attention down the field, which gives him the highest ceiling amongst a deep group of pass-catchers.