The 2022 regular season kicks off in a few short days for the Detroit Lions. The roster is set, the plays installed and the gameplans ready to roll for Dan Campbell’s second season in Detroit.
Projecting the stats for the key players in Detroit is a difficult challenge. There are new schemes on both offense and defense, with each unit efforting to be more aggressive and proactive than they were a season ago. Many of the key players return, with some high-end newcomers also impacting the depth chart and stat projections.
All of these statistical projections are calculated on the assumption of each player participating in all 17 games. Injuries unfortunately will derail that, but predicting injuries is even harder than forecasting stats.
Here are the fearless predictions for Lions player stats in 2022.
QB Jared Goff
2021 stats: 332-of-494, 67.2% completions, 3,245 passing yards, 19 TDs, 9 INTs, 35 sacks, 87 rushing yards (13 games)
2022 projection:
412-of-616 passing, 68.4% completions, 4,149 passing yards, 29 TDs, 11 INTs, 30 sacks, 112 rushing yards and 3 rushing TDs
RB D'Andre Swift
2021 stats: 151 carries, 617 rushing yards, 4.1 YPC, 5 TDs; 62 receptions on 78 targets, 452 receiving yards, 2 receiving TDs (13 games)
2022 projection:
172 carries, 773 rushing yards, 4.2 YPC, 7 TDs
51 receptions on 62 targets, 448 receiving yards, 4 receiving TDs
RB Jamaal Williams
2021 stats: 153 carries, 601 rushing yards, 3.9 YPC, 3 rushing TDs; 26 receptions on 28 targets, 157 receiving yards, 0 receiving TDs (13 games)
2022 projection:
144 carries, 619 rushing yards, 4.3 YPC, 4 rushing TDs; 18 receptions on 23 targets, 133 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD
TE T.J. Hockenson
2021 stats: 61 receptions on 84 targets, 583 yards, 4 TDs (12 games)
2022 projection: 81 receptions on 112 targets, 882 yards, 6 TDs
WR Amon-Ra St. Brown
2021 stats: 90 receptions on 119 targets, 912 yards, 5 TDs
2022 projection: 106 receptions on 144 targets, 1,112 yards, 5 TDs
TE Brock Wright
2021 stats: 12 receptions on 17 targets, 117 receiving yards, 2 TDs (10 games)
2022 projection: 11 receptions on 20 targets, 138 receiving yards, 1 TD
WR DJ Chark
2021 stats: 7 receptions on 22 targets, 154 receiving yards, 2 TDs (4 games with the Jaguars)
2022 projection: 59 receptions on 92 targets, 835 yards, 5 TDs
WR Kalif Raymond
2021 stats: 48 receptions on 71 targets, 576 receiving yards, 4 TDs (16 games)
2022 projection: 20 receptions on 34 targets, 303 receiving yards, 3 TDs
WR Josh Reynolds
2021 stats: 19 receptions on 36 targets, 306 receiving yards, 2 TDs (7 games in DET)
2022 projection: 38 receptions on 64 targets. 488 receiving yards, 2 TDs
WR Jameson Williams
2021 stats: 79 receptions, 1,572 yards and 15 TDs (15 games at Alabama)
2022 projection: 28 receptions on 45 targets, 517 receiving yards, 5 TDs
*Projection based on 9 games with Williams starting the season on the reserve/NFI list
K Austin Seibert
2021 stats: 10-for-12 FG attempts (long 52), 5-for-5 XP, 19 percent touchback rate on kickoffs (6 games)
2022 projection: 33-for-39 FG (long 56), 51-for-52 XP, 44 percent touchback rate
DE Aidan Hutchinson
2021 stats: 14 sacks, 16.5 TFLs, 62 total tackles (14 games at Michigan)
2022 projection: 8.5 sacks, 17 TFLs, 70 total tackles, one INT, 3 forced fumbles
