The Denver Broncos announced on December 3 that they had waived wide receiver Josh Reynolds, who had been on injured reserve since Week 5.

Reynolds had to either be cut or activated to the team’s active roster before Wednesday, but the Broncos ultimately decided to part ways with him.

Since joining Denver in the offseason, Reynolds has dealt with a combination of injuries and inconsistent play, failing to replicate the production he had during his last two seasons with the Detroit Lions.

No Return to Detroit Expected for Reynolds

Now that Reynolds is waived, he will be placed on waivers, where another team could claim him, though he will become a free agent if he clears. According to SI.com’s John Maakaron, a return to Detroit is unlikely.

Reynolds’ departure from the Lions was less than ideal, as he was part of a high-profile loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game, where he made several critical drops.

Reynolds spent three seasons in Detroit, totaling 97 receptions for 1,393 yards and 10 touchdowns in 38 games.

Although he was the Lions’ No. 2 receiver behind Amon-Ra St. Brown last season, Detroit has since moved forward, giving more significant roles to other wideouts.

Maakaron notes that this makes a reunion with Detroit even more improbable, especially since the Lions have already shifted their focus to other players, such as former Broncos receiver Tim Patrick, who has found success in Detroit’s offense.

Patrick’s growing connection with quarterback Jared Goff further suggests that Reynolds is not part of Detroit’s plans moving forward.

The Broncos, coming off a victory over the Cleveland Browns on Monday Night Football, are pushing for a playoff spot. This has been buoyed by strong performances from rookie quarterback Bo Nix.

Reynolds, who was expected to make a significant impact on the Broncos’ offense, failed to find his rhythm due to both injury and inconsistent performance.

His lack of contribution left the Broncos with little choice but to part ways with him.

Detroit’s New Star on the Rise

While Reynolds’ time in Detroit is over, the Lions have continued to develop their wide receiver corps.

Jameson Williams, a third-year receiver, has stepped up in a larger role and is having the best season of his career, with 34 catches for 630 yards and four touchdowns.

Though Williams has faced some setbacks, including a two-game suspension for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy, head coach Dan Campbell remains confident in his potential.

After Williams returned from suspension, Campbell expressed optimism that the former first-round pick had learned from the experience.

Campbell praised Williams’ renewed focus and commitment to improving, believing that the time away from the field has only helped his development.