Ryan Broyles likely down to final chance with Lions

To listen to Martin Mayhew, Ryan Broyles' run with the Detroit Lions isn't over — it only looks that way.

Broyles languished as the Lions' fifth receiver this year, rarely playing and hardly ever being active for games.

Though he was healthy for the first time in his career, Broyles appeared in just five games — fewer than in either of his first two injury-shortened seasons — and he finished with two catches for 25 yards.

"I would have loved to have seen him get out on the field and play for us," Mayhew said earlier this month. "Unfortunately, there were guys ahead of him, and they stayed relatively healthy for the most part. So the reason why he didn't play was because nobody got hurt. The other guys were featured in our offense, we had plans for those guys in the offense, and he was our first reserve off the bench."

The Lions spent big in free agency last off-season to lure Golden Tate as a complement to Calvin Johnson, and that move paid off as Tate led the Lions in catches and receiving yards and was added to the Pro Bowl as an alternate last week.

Lions coach Jim Caldwell said during the season that Broyles and Tate "play the same position," and that's what prevented Broyles from getting on the field.

Corey Fuller, who made major strides in his development last season, spent the year as the Lions' No. 3 receiver, and Broyles can't match his deep speed. And Jeremy Ross was the Lions' No. 4 receiver, playing out of the slot, handling return duties and contributing as the team's best blocking receiver.

Broyles, who suffered torn ACLs in 2011-12 and ruptured his Achilles tendon in 2013, turns 27 in April, about the time the Lions report for off-season workouts.

With rookie sixth-round pick TJ Jones returning from a season-ending shoulder injury and the possibility the Lions add another receiver in this year's draft, Broyles is likely down to his last chance to make the team.

"Like the sixth man in basketball, sometimes you don't get in," Mayhew said. "He didn't get an opportunity to get in. But I look forward to see what he does this off-season and seeing his continual development. He'll be a year removed from that Achilles injury, I think he'll have a little bit more pep in his step this off-season, so I'll look forward to seeing him work."

Contact Dave Birkett: dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.