Former Jet, Seahawk Jermaine Kearse Signs With Lions

Former New York Jets and Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jermaine Kearse signed a one-year contract this week with the Detroit Lions, ESPN’S Adam Schefter reported.

Kearse, now 29 years old, is entering the eighth season of his professional career. The former undrafted free agent out of the University of Washington is coming off an extremely disappointing season statistically. With the Jets in 2018, Kearse finished with 37 receptions for 371 yards and just one touchdown while working with Jets rookie quarterback Sam Darnold.

“As a player, he can certainly make some pretty ridiculous catches down on the goal line in some pretty big games at the last second, which can give defensive coordinators a lot of problems”, Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia told reporters at a press conference to announce to the signing. “I would say beyond that, just a guy that’s very experienced here… He’s tough. He’s smart. He’s a hard worker. He’s one of those guys who has fought through his entire career to make him who he is. Just another good player to get in here to evaluate and see how he can help us.”

The Lions are in desperate need for any help they can get at wide receiver. Marvin Jones and Kenny Golladay, the Lions’ top two receivers,  have not been participating every day in minicamps this offseason while nursing injuries and going through rehab. Former Patriots, Rams and Dolphins wide receiver Danny Amendola signed to primarily serve as the Lions’ slot receiver but finished last season with just 575 receiving yards and one touchdown on 59 receptions for Miami last season.

The Jets acquired Kearse and a second-round in 2018 from the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson. Richardson, a former first-round pick by the New York Jets out of Missouri in the 2013 NFL Draft, lasted just one season in Seattle before signing a one-year contract last season with the Minnesota Vikings.