Breshad Perriman's career day comes in special place
Eduardo Encina, Tampa Bay Times, published 16 December 2019

Breshad Perriman was way too young to remember his father's glory days playing for the Lions. He was just a toddler when Brett Perriman posted back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons in Detroit. "The plays he made were just crazy and I still watch them to this day," Perriman said.

Still, it was fitting that Perriman had the best game of his five-year NFL career in Detroit on Sunday against the Lions. Perriman caught a career-high three touchdown passes in Sunday's 38-21 win over the Lions — he's never had more than three touchdowns in a single season. His 113 receiving yards on five catches were also career-highs.

"It made it that much better," Perriman said of having his career day in Detroit. "I haven't had the chance to really think about it yet, but it just means a lot to me. I have a lot of love for my pops and the legacy he had here and just to be able to come here and have a great game, one of my biggest games of my career, it means a lot for our story, my story, my dad's story and my family's story in general.”

Perriman's father wasn't there to watch him. Brett Perriman suffered a stroke in 2016, and while Perriman said he's suffering from dementia at the age of 54, he said he's "doing good. He knows. He runs for me no matter what, no matter who we are playing," Perriman said. "It's family over everything."

Over the past three games, Perriman is having the best stretch of a career that was slowed by injuries early on. He has 13 catches for 270 yards and four touchdowns. He's averaging nearly 21 yards a catch over that stretch.

The Bucs have needed him. Mike Evans was sidelined last week, and Chris Godwin and Scotty Miller exited Sunday's game. All three receivers have been sidelined by hamstring injuries. "It honestly sucks to see one of your brothers get hurt," Perriman said. "In the back of my mind, I probably knew (I needed to step up), but at the same time, I just try to do my job to the best of my abilities."

He's forming a strong connection with Jameis Winston - especially on deeper throws - that the two didn't have earlier this season. Through Perriman's first five games he had just three catches on 16 targets for an average of 3.2 yards a catch.

On Sunday, four of Perriman's five catches were gains of 22 yards or longer, including a 34-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter on a deep post pattern that found him wide open downfield. He also caught two touchdown passes of 25 yards each. "I think it was special," Winston said of Perriman's day. "I think his hard work is just continuing to pay off and that's what happens. You continue to work and whatever you do, just put your head back and keep going. That's what he's been doing every day.”