As is common, Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown started pretty slowly as a rookie in 2021. But starting with the final six games of that season, the "Sun God" has been among the most consistent and productive pass catchers in the NFL.
With two catches in the first half of Sunday's overtime win over the New York Giants, St. Brown got to 498 career catches, the second-most catches in league history in the first five seasons of a career. Only former New Orleans Saints' wide receiver Michael Thomas has more (510).
With his fourth reception on Sunday, St. Brown got to 500 career receptions in the second-fewest games in league history (77).
Amon-St. Brown is nearing record just in time for Thanksgiving Day game
St. Brown finished Sunday's game with nine catches for 149 yards and a touchdown. That puts him at 505 career catches, which then means he needs six more catches to top Thomas for the most receptions in someone's first five seasons.
With six games left in his fifth season, barring something completely unforeseen, St. Brown will easily pass Thomas and set the new record for receptions over the first five seasons of a career with room to spare. He might even get it done on Thanksgiving Day against the Green Bay Packers.
In nine career games against the Packers, St. Brown has 51 receptions for 526 yards and three touchdowns (5.7 catches per game). In four home games against Green Bay, he is averaging 6.5 catches per game, with his first and third games against them at Ford Field clearly better than the other two).
On Thanksgiving Day in 2023, when the Packers last made the holiday visit to Ford Field, St. Brown had nine catches for 95 yards.
Based on history, the Lions' coaching staff is keenly aware of personal situations for players.
When former wide receiver Josh Reynolds had a contract incentive attached to receiving yards in 2023, plays were called to ensure late in the regular season finale to ensure he got it. Running back David Montgomery was playing in his hometown for the first time in his career earlier this season, and as a nod to his roots as a high school quarterback, a trick play was dialed up against the Cincinnati Bengals and he threw a touchdown pass.
So you can bet, if it hasn't already easily happened in the natural course of things by then and the situation makes sense, St. Brown will have a play specifically dialed up late so he can get his record-breaking catch to pass Thomas in front of the Lions' home crowd on Thanksgiving Day.
