ALLEN PARK — Tom Kennedy is no stranger to having to fight and wait for his chance to produce for the Detroit Lions.

The veteran wide receiver has bounced between the practice squad and main roster since 2019. It’s an impressive run to make it that long, living life on the NFL’s bubble, especially to do it all for one team and across two regimes. It speaks to Kennedy’s preparation and the team’s trust in him, not to mention how far he’s come from being the receiver known as the former professional Lacrosse player.

Dan Campbell recently said, “We trust TK. That’s why he’s here.” The Lions coach pointed to his ability returning kicks and added that “he can do a million jobs on offense.”

Dave Fipp, the team’s special teams coordinator, when asked about Kennedy and his journey, pointed to how the NFL can be “crazy like that.”

“I mean, here’s Tom Kennedy, the guy’s been up on our roster, he’s been down, he’s bounced around, he’s sat in the wings for a long time,” Fipp said earlier this week. “There are a lot of guys like that, and it’s crazy, they’re just kind of hanging around. I mean, anybody can take him. He’s been on our practice squad, somebody can come in and claim, put him on their active roster if they wanted. But ultimately, every time he gets a chance to go in the game, he’s been productive for us, really probably in both phases, which is great to see. It’s a credit to him.

“And this league’s full of guys like that who have great stories, they just keep believing in themselves, they keep competing, keep playing, and all those guys can really hope for is an opportunity. You get an opportunity, you go make plays, that’s all you can do, which he’s done.”

Fipp also credited Kennedy for being a great player in practice who helps his teammates prepare, and working with young players and helping them learn.

Kennedy is doing it again with his latest chance. He had four catches for 36 yards, with a 21-yard punt return and three kickoff returns for 81 yards on Thanksgiving against the Green Bay Packers. Kennedy became the first Lions player since Mel Gray (1991) to have a kick return of 30-plus yards, punt return of 20-plus yards and a 20-yard catch in the same game.

His offensive role was reduced from 41 snaps to five with Amon-Ra St. Brown’s return this past Thursday. But Kennedy still found ways to put the Lions in great spots with consistently strong returns against the Dallas Cowboys.

In his second chance returning kicks, with Kalif Raymond (ankle) out and Sione Vaki (thumb) still banged up. Kennedy returned another punt for 21 yards, and handled three kickoffs for 120 yards.

Vaki has been active but hasn’t returned a kick since Week 3. Raymond is dealing with an ankle injury and has missed two games and every practice since suffering it. So, the chance for Kennedy is right there.

He returned a kick to the 47-yard line in the first quarter. His 21-yard punt return gave the offense the ball at the 42-yard line, leading to the first touchdown of the game six plays later. His 38-yard return in the fourth quarter landed the offense at the 41-yard line, and a lead-extending touchdown five snaps later.

Then, Kennedy’s last kickoff chance went for 42 yards to the 49-yard line, with the Lions adding the clinching score three plays later. He became the first NFL player since Josh Cribbs (2007) to have three kick returns of at least 35 yards and a 20-yard punt return in the same game. Get the picture?

Kennedy has taken his latest chance on the 53-man roster and run with it, likely cementing his spot for the final four games of the regular season.

“ … any time you’re up and playing, you just want to be able to contribute in whatever way to help the team win,” Kennedy said after Thursday’s win. “So, just happy I’ve been able to do that, honestly.

“All it takes is one gap. If you find it, just trusting it, hitting it with speed and getting downhill.”