Josh Reynolds didn’t have much of an answer for what went wrong in the second half of the Lions’ NFC title game loss on Sunday.
The Lions’ wide receiver made two critical drops in the third quarter that ended up costing Detroit dearly. The 49ers made a historic 17-point comeback in the second half against Detroit to win 34-31 and advance to Super Bowl III. Las Vegas on February 11th.
“That’s not going to happen,” Reynolds told reporters Tuesday about the second-half slump. According to the Detroit Free Press. “I know what kind of player I am. I didn’t want to drop those things. That happens. Do I just want them back? Sure, but I can’t do that and I’ve worked hard this offseason. , you have to be ready for that moment.”
Reynolds couldn’t control a 4-2 conversion on the Lions’ second drive of the first half and dropped a 3-9 pass a few minutes later.
San Francisco scored on both subsequent drives after key drops, including the game-winning field goal after a second fumble.
Reynolds said she had no explanation for what happened, but added: “I definitely didn’t help with the role.”
Quarterback Jared Goff defended Reynolds when speaking to the media on the day of the locker cleanout.
“We made a lot of mistakes,” Goff told reporters. “I missed the throw. I took the sack. He made a mistake, but that happens, and he’s an absolute stud.”
Reynolds became a free agent this offseason and hopes to return to the Lions, which will bring back offensive coordinator Ben Johnson for the 2024 season.
The wide receiver said the organization has told him they want him back next year.
Reynolds arrived in Detroit on waivers in 2021 and has been a key part of the Lions’ offense the past two years.
He had 40 catches for 608 yards and five touchdowns this season.
He had one catch for 25 yards in the title game loss.
