The Detroit Lions stated on Tuesday that he was “stepping away from the team

In order to attend to personal family problems, wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr.of the Detroit Lions stated on Tuesday that he was “stepping away from the team.”

The 33-year-old announced the news on social media shortly after the Lions announced his release. The reason behind Jones’s departure was not disclosed by either the team or Jones himself.

I can’t be the player or person I need to be for this team and take care of my family from a distance, even if this was not an easy decision to make,” Jones stated. He gave the Lions gratitude for their “wonderful” support and love for him and his family throughout the years.

He went on, “For that, I am grateful.”

After playing with the Jacksonville Jaguars for the previous two seasons, Jones was in his first season back with the Lions. The Cincinnati Bengals selected him in the fifth round of the 2012 draft, and he played for them for four years before joining Detroit in 2016. He returned to the Lions in March after signing a rumored one-year, $3 million contract with an additional $2 million in incentives with the Jaguars during the 2021 free agency period.Jones, a Southern California native and Cal football player in college, stated in April that he chose to return to the Lions because “this was my home for five years.” “I asked my family, ‘What would you think if Daddy went back to Detroit?’ The only team outside of the West Coast that I would play for was Detroit. I was sensual all the time. Compared to other teams I was thinking about, this one is more equipped.

Following the 5-2 Lions’ opening six games, in which Jones managed just five receptions for 35 yards, he was declared inactive and did not travel with the club to Baltimore for Week 7. Detroit declared him out of the contest, citing a “personal matter—not injury-related” explanation.