Detroit Lions Need TE Eric Ebron To Have Week 5 Breakout Game

By Travis Newville @travisto989 on October 2, 2014

Eric Ebron catching first career touchdown

Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

Calvin Johnson is not going to be at full strength for a few more weeks, and the Detroit Lions will need their first-round draft pick to step up. It was not perchance that Eric Ebron caught his first career touchdown pass against the New York Jets. He stepped into a bigger role the minute Megatron was listed as questionable and Joseph Fauria went down with an injury. Ebron ran with that role.

To the average fan it may not seem like much, but Ebron’s Week 4 touchdown was the precursor to success. He did exactly what needed to be done to fit into the Lions’ offense, and he did it at a crucial time. Of Ebron’s six catches this season, five of them have been for a first down, and one of them was a touchdown. Without a doubt, those numbers will increase with Johnson spending more time on the sidelines.

The Buffalo Bills‘ pass defense ranks a meager 27th overall in the NFL, and if there was ever a good time for Ebron to have a coming out party, it would be when the Bills come into Ford Field. Matthew Stafford will be short at least one big target in Fauria, and Johnson is clearly not playing at full health. Ebron should be able to make his targets count in Week 5.

Ebron took a lot of heat in college, because he wasn’t as sure-handed as he could have been. That isn’t the case for Ebron at the professional level; at least so far it isn’t. He seems to be as sure-handed as they come, and he is establishing himself more in every contest. It is only a matter of time until Ebron has a breakout game, and it could happen as soon as this Sunday.

Travis Newville is a Detroit Lions writer at www.RantSports.com. You can follow him on Twitter @travisto989. Connect with him on Facebook here, or add him to your Google network.