The Detroit Lions added depth to their receiving corps on Wednesday, March 18, with a familiar face for new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing.
The Lions signed free agent wide receiver/return man Greg Dortch after a free-agent visit Wednesday. NFL Network reported the deal was for one year.
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Dortch, 27, played the past five seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, including the last three with Petzing as his offensive coordinator.
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Isiah Pacheco joins Detroit Lions backfield as violent runner
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco takes the field prior to a game against the Detroit Lions at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Oct. 12, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri.
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Isiah Pacheco joins Detroit Lions backfield as violent runner
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco takes the field prior to a game against the Detroit Lions at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Oct. 12, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri.
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Isiah Pacheco joins Detroit Lions backfield as violent runner
Running back Isiah Pacheco of the Kansas City Chiefs carries the ball as defensive end Aidan Hutchinson of the Detroit Lions defends during the game at Arrowhead Stadium on Oct. 12, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri.
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Isiah Pacheco joins Detroit Lions backfield as violent runner
Running back Isiah Pacheco of the Kansas City Chiefs carries the ball during the game against the Detroit Lions at Arrowhead Stadium on Oct. 12, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri.
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Isiah Pacheco joins Detroit Lions backfield as violent runner
Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes tackles Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco during the second half of the Lions’ 21-20 win on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023, in Kansas City, Missouri.
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Isiah Pacheco joins Detroit Lions backfield as violent runner
Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson tackles Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco during the first half at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023.
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Isiah Pacheco joins Detroit Lions backfield as violent runner
Detroit Lions defensive end Josh Paschal (93) tackles Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco during the second half at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023.
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Isiah Pacheco joins Detroit Lions backfield as violent runner
Isiah Pacheco of the Kansas City Chiefs carries the ball against the Detroit Lions in the third quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Sept. 7, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri.
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Isiah Pacheco joins Detroit Lions backfield as violent runner
Philadelphia Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson tackles Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco during the fourth quarter of Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium, Feb. 12, 2023 in Glendale, Ariz.
He said Petzing’s presence was “a big reason” he signed with the Lions.
“Obviously just the comfortable factor, the trust, the success that I’ve had with him being my OC, the three years together,” Dortch said. “Drew’s very smart. He knows exactly how to get people the ball, as well as Kalif Raymond taking another job somewhere else. I seen that the spot was vacant.”
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Dortch should compete for the No. 4 receiver job with the Lions, behind Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and Isaac TeSlaa, and could handle returns after Raymond signed a free-agent deal with the Chicago Bears.
Dortch started his NFL career with the New York Jets and played for three other teams before catching on with the Cardinals in 2021.
In five seasons in Arizona, he caught 145 passes for 1,310 yards. He had career-highs of 52 catches and 467 yards in 2022, before Petzing came to Arizona, and caught 29 passes for 206 yards last season before missing the final five games with a chest injury.
“Detroit fits who I am as a man,” Dortch said. “The grit, the toughness, the getting it out of the mud. Just, that’s me. That’s my whole story and when I got a call from Detroit that they were interested it was no better fit.”
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Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions sign speedy WR Greg Dortch, a Drew Petzing favorite