Marvin Jones Will Wear No. 0 Jersey in Return to Lions

Marvin Jones had a feeling he would return to the Detroit Lions after being released.

New Detroit Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. will become the first member of the roster to suit up with the No. 0 jersey in the modern era. 

The league recently instituted a new rule that allowed NFL players to wear the No. 0 jersey. After his children voted, the decision was made to change numbers in Detroit. 

With No. 11 being currently worn by Kalif Raymond, Jones will earn a unique distinction in Lions history. 

Fullback Johnny Olszewski donned the No. 0 jersey back in 1961. 

After a stint with the Jaguars, the 33-year-old veteran, in Jones, had a feeling that another opportunity to play with the Lions could be in the works. 

"If you would have told me a few months ago that I'd be coming back, after moving back West, would I be here? I'd be like, ooooh. It just called me. I love the City. I love everything that has to do with it," said Jones. "Obviously, when you see a team, and I played against this team, it's different. The organization is different in terms of the culture and stuff like that. It's a team that's obviously has done some great things and can continue to do great things, in making a push."

Though Jones Jr. never played for Campbell, he did suit up for the Lions for five seasons. After a two-year tenure with the Jacksonville Jaguars, he's returning to Motown on a one-year, $3 million deal. 

The 33-year-old wideout had the best seasons of his career while playing for Detroit from 2016-2020. He surpassed 700 receiving yards in each year, save for an injury-shortened 2018 campaign. 

In 2017, the veteran recorded a career-high 1,101 yards and nine touchdowns. That season was one of three in which he caught nine scores. 

Throughout his stint with the organization, he learned to appreciate and embody the toughness and grit of the fanbase. Holmes and Campbell have embraced those qualities since taking over their respective roles with the franchise.

Last season, Jones was part of a Jaguars roster that took a step forward and made the playoffs. 

In his return, the Lions have expectations to take a step forward in 2023, with the hopes of winning the division and securing a home playoff game. 

"Both the teams, the Jags and here, I think we had kind of had similar paths," said Jones. "There was a point where it didn't look good, and you're both trying to turn it around. So, I think with that experience, with having pitfalls and ending up being in a better place, all it takes is just plays and not turning over the ball, really. Just not making mistakes, you know.

"I think that was kind of the turning point. But also, it's the juice," Jones continued. "There's a certain juice that you have to have to really turn things over to feel that, 'Hey, I we can make this run or we could do this.' I think that was one of the things that in Jacksonville, we knew we had the team, but we just had to get out of our own way. I think that's football, right. Like I said, it was very intriguing to come back, because I did follow, I always kept following Detroit. And, I did follow this last season. And, I was like, 'Man, yea, I'm back. I'm about to go back for sure.'"

The veteran joins a wide receiver corps built on youth. Amon-Ra St. Brown has emerged as the best of the bunch heading into his third professional season, while Jameson Williams is viewed as a breakout candidate heading into his second.

The unit continues to grow from a depth perspective, as Jones will also be joining the likes of Kalif Raymond and Josh Reynolds.

Detroit has made its goal of contending for a playoff berth clear throughout the offseason. The returning wideout was a part of the Lions' most recent playoff appearance in 2016. 

In his return, he's hoping to help the team rekindle those postseason hopes.