The possibility of familiar faces returning seems to be a recurring theme for the Detroit Lions recently. First, it was former Lions cornerback Darius Slay, who stated that Detroit is one of the two teams he would want to play for in the upcoming season.

Now, there’s another former Lion whose return might be in the cards. Earlier this week, NFL.com’s Matt Okada listed former Lions guard Jonah Jackson as a potential cut candidate for the Los Angeles Rams.

With Jackson’s future with the Rams uncertain, AtoZ Sports’ Mike Payton has urged the Lions to bring back their former guard if he becomes available. The Lions selected Jackson in the third round of the 2020 draft, and he quickly became a key figure in their offensive line.

With Jackson’s future with the Rams unclear, AtoZ Sports’ Mike Payton recommended that the Lions pursue their former guard if he’s released. Jackson was drafted by Detroit in the third round of the 2020 draft and became a crucial part of their offensive line right away.

He started all 16 games as a rookie and earned a Pro Bowl selection in his second season. He continued as a starter for the next two years before hitting free agency. His strong four years with the Lions helped him secure a large contract in free agency. His three-year, $51 million deal with the Rams placed him among the top 10 highest-paid guards in the NFL.

Unfortunately, the Rams’ signing of Jackson didn’t work out in 2024. Jackson appeared in just four regular season games due to an injury. He gave up nine pressures in those four games.

Now, with Jackson’s future in Los Angeles uncertain, the Rams might part ways with him, and the timing could align for a potential return to the Lions. When Jackson left, the Lions signed Kevin Zeitler to a one-year deal as his replacement. Zeitler had a solid season in Detroit but is now set to hit free agency and could have a strong market.

If Zeitler departs, re-signing Jackson to reclaim his position on the offensive line would make sense to maintain continuity. Currently, the Lions have Christian Mahogany as a potential replacement for Zeitler, but he only has two career starts.

This could leave the Lions looking for a veteran presence while Mahogany develops further. While Jackson’s injury history over the past few years is a concern, he’s proven to be a valuable part of the offensive line and likely wouldn’t take up too much of the team’s available cap space.

Jackson would need to be released first, but if the Rams decide to move on from him, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him return to Detroit.