mlive
Following the season-ending injury to Tom Kennedy in Week 5 against the Arizona Cardinals, the Detroit Lions have identified their replacement for return duties. Kennedy had been the team's primary punt returner and also contributed on kick returns, but now the Lions are turning to a well-traveled veteran who joined the practice squad only a week ago.
Special teams coordinator Dave Fipp informed reporters on Thursday morning that recently acquired wide receiver DeAndre Carter will assume Kennedy's role, beginning with Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers. Although the Lions had internal options such as Sione Vaki, Dominic Lovett, Lawrence Keys, and Lucky Jackson, most lack the extensive experience of the 33-year-old Carter.
Fipp praised Carter's resilience, saying, "His story is like the ultimate story of just overcoming all the obstacles and he plays the game that way." Carter's journey began at Sacramento State, where he earned FCS All-American honors before going undrafted in 2015. He spent time in training camps and on practice squads with four different teams before making his NFL debut in 2018 with the Philadelphia Eagles, where Fipp was the special teams coordinator. Carter played seven games under Fipp before being released, and over the next seven years, he became a reliable plug-and-play return man for seven different teams.
Reflecting on Carter's perseverance, Fipp added, "I think he had gotten cut by four teams and he had bounced around. He kept on fighting, trying to make it. He did what he does, he catches the ball. He competes, gets downhill, he's quick, very competitive... he loves playing football. I've always respected his game."
In 103 regular-season games, Carter has returned 147 punts and 128 kickoffs. His most productive kick return season came in 2021 with Washington, where he amassed a career-best 904 kick return yards on 36 attempts, ranking second in the NFL. The following year with the Los Angeles Chargers, he set a career high in punt return yards, taking 29 punts for 339 yards, which ranked fifth in the league in total yardage, and his average of 11.7 yards per return was the second-highest among players with at least 20 punt returns that season.
Carter has not played since Week 4 of the 2025 season, when he suffered a knee injury while playing for the Cleveland Browns in a game against the Lions. Fipp noted that he was not the one who advocated for signing Carter; rather, the personnel department expressed interest and brought him onto the practice squad. "I know a lot about him and I think he'll do a great job," Fipp said.
The Lions are eager to maintain their strong punt return game without Kennedy, as they currently rank third in the NFL with an average of 14.4 yards per return. Carter has demonstrated he can be among the league's best, and Detroit hopes that inserting the veteran into the lineup in Week 7 will help sustain that success.
Key Analysis
Carter's extensive experience and proven track record as a return specialist make him a logical choice to fill the void left by Kennedy's injury. His familiarity with Fipp from their time together in Philadelphia could ease the transition, and the Lions' personnel department's initiative in signing him suggests confidence in his abilities. With the team's punt return unit performing at a high level, Carter's insertion into the lineup will be closely watched as Detroit aims to maintain its special teams prowess.
Originally reported by mlive.