Detroit Lions WR Marvin Jones Jr.: ‘I want over 15 touchdowns’ in 2020

Detroit Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. is coming off of one of his most successful seasons to date. He finished 2019 with nine touchdowns, one short of his career high, and tied for third among all NFL wide receivers. He set a career high 4.8 receptions per game and averaged a solid 60 yards per contest. Oh, and he managed to do all of that despite missing the final three games of the season with an injury.

But Jones is still as hungry as ever. Joining Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan on Instagram Live this week, Jones expressed his desire to not only be among the top wide receivers in the NFL, but stay there.

“I’ve had 10 touchdowns, I’ve had over 1,100 (yards), I’ve led the league in yards per catch, I’ve had two games of over four touchdowns. I think it’s more just me going up and just staying up, going to the top and staying to the top,” Jones told Jordan.

So what does that mean for him, personally? Well, he’s setting the bar incredibly high.

“I want to lead the league in—I want over 15 touchdowns. Forget 10, I’ve had 10 already. I want that. I want 1,400 (yards). Just stuff like that that drives me and every time I step on that line—I’m going on Year 9—but every time I step on that line, it just fuels me to be great.”

15 touchdowns is a lofty goal for Jones. Since 2012, only two wide receiver have done it: Antonio Brown (15) in 2016 and Dez Bryant (16) in 2014. Even Calvin Johnson only managed to eclipse that number once in his career, when he pulled in 16 touchdowns in 2011.

But Jones’ goals aren’t just personal, he’s expecting the Lions to make a push this year. He wants all the stigma and the losing erased. And he believes the additions they’ve made—specifically the former Patriots with Championship histories—have gotten them to a point where they could do it in 2020.

“With this free agency and everything that’s been going on, we’ve added a lot of great players, a lot of players that know how to win and that have been to the big show and all that stuff,” Jones said.

“I think we do have the players. Obviously everybody is back and healthy and ready to roll. We gotta make this push and I think we can do it.”

You can watch the entire interview here, as Jones talks about how he’s been coping in quarantine, watching his kids grow up to be football players and the meaning of his “BZN” brand.