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The Detroit Lions elevated wide receivers Jackson Meeks and Tom Kennedy to the active roster for Week 11 just as the team placed Sam LaPorta on IR.
The Detroit Lions suffered a big blow when receiver and return specialist Kalif Raymond went down with an injury, but they’ve found relief in the form of fan-favorite player Tom Kennedy.
Kennedy has now moved into the role on a permanent basis, with the team announcing that he would be staying on as kick returner. The longtime member of the practice squad will hold down the role as the Lions face a critical stretch to end the season, one that will make or break their playoff hopes.
Tom Kennedy’s Breakout Performance
Kennedy has been on the practice squad for the majority of his seven seasons in Detroit, but moved to the active roster after Raymond’s injury. He has done well as a return specialist, averaging 27.0 yards per kick return with a 21-yard punt return in his first game. In the team’s win over the Dallas Cowboys, he brought all three kick returns beyond Detroit’s 40-yard line.
Speaking to reporters this week, Lions special teams coordinator Dave Fipp said Kennedy would stay in the kick returning role even after Raymond is ready to return.
“Kalif’s obviously an incredible player for us, so I would see him starting off as our punt returner and I would definitely see Tom Kennedy being part of the kick return game,” Fipp said, via SB Nation’s Pride of Detroit. “Leaf back, I would see him returning punts for sure.”
Fipp added that he’s thrilled for Kennedy to finally get such a big opportunity after working for so long just to land a spot on the roster.
“I can’t tell you how ecstatic I am for Tom Kennedy,” Fipp said. “I mean there’s nobody who deserves the attention and the recognition more than him in this building. I mean a guy who’s just worked his tail off every single day the whole time he’s been here. Never ever complained about the reps he’s getting, the opportunity he’s getting. Whether he knows he can do something better than maybe some other guy who’s getting his shot before him. And then for him to get the opportunity and then go out there and make the most of it, you’ve got to give him a lot of credit.”
Nathan Dougherty is a sports reporter covering the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins. Previously he wrote for the Rochester Business Journal and served as the assistant editor of athletic trade magazines Coaching Management, Athletic Management and Training & Conditioning. He is based out of Rochester, New York, and loves everything football. More about Nathan Dougherty
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