The Detroit Lions made a move Wednesday - two days before training camp officially begins - to try to find a bigger, experienced receiver to play on the outside opposite Calvin Johnson.
The club confirmed that an agreement has been reached on a one-year contract with 6-foot-4, 225-pound Chaz Schilens, who had 28 receptions for 289 yards and two touchdowns last season with the New York Jets.
Schilens, 27, was a seventh-round draft pick by the Oakland Raiders in 2008 out of San Diego State. He made 72 catches for 902 yards and seven TDs in his first four NFL seasons with the Raiders.
The Lions' top three receivers are set with the 6-5, 236-pound Johnson, 6-foot, 198-pound Nate Burleson and 5-10, 188-pound Ryan Broyles. Burleson (broken leg) and Broyles (knee surgery) are coming off season-ending injuries, but are expected to be close to full strength with camp beginning Friday.
Schilens will compete for the No. 4 job along with 6-2, 196-pound Corey Fuller (sixth-round draft pick), 5-9, 175-pound Patrick Edwards (practice squad last season), 5-8, 198-pound Mike Thomas (five catches for 28 yards and one TD with Detroit last season), 6-6, 216-pound Kris Durham (eight catches for 125 yards and one TD last season) and 5-11, 210-pound Micheal Spurlock (free-agent addition from San Diego).
