With Titus Young returning to practice Wednesday after nearly a week and a half team ban, details on his benching are starting to emerge.
According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, after Young was angry for not being targeted more during the Lions’ Week 11 loss to Green Bay, the receiver reportedly lined up in the wrong place “multiple times” purposely trying to sabotage the passing offense. In addition to this Young was also mouthing off to wide receivers coach Shawn Jefferson.
Evan Silva of ProFootballTalk.com also highlights Young’s Lions teammates not having his back anymore including Calvin Johnson who indicated that the team was prepared to move on with rookie Ryan Broyles and recently acquired Mike Thomas.
“It was nice to see some new playmakers in there making plays,” Johnson told the Detroit News. “We are going to keep progressing with these new guys in our receiver group.”
Since his return to the practice field, Young has been working primarily with the second team offense while head coach Jim Schwartz remains mum on his playing status this weekend against Indianapolis.
With this recent news it further begs the question if the Lions should even be wasting their time with Young? Not to mention can the Lions even afford to take more chances on him going forward?
Sure Young is talented, but he’s not talented enough to warrant this type of behavior, no player is. Trying to sabotage your own team’s offense is in the realm of sports treason and something that every team should have zero tolerance for.
Unfortunately it’s looking like Titus Young will get yet another chance to prove himself.
h/t: Detroit Free Press, Detroit News, ProFootballTalk.com