When Kalif Raymond went down with an ankle injury in the Detroit Lions’ Week 12 win over the New York Giants, it appeared they had lost one of their biggest weapons on special teams. While this hasn’t been Raymond’s best year, he’s a two-time All Pro and even had a punt return touchdown earlier this season.
But in the two weeks Raymond has been sidelined, Tom Kennedy has been a revelation. A wideout that has spent the majority of his seven-year career on the practice squad, Kennedy finally got significant action as the team’s kick returner, and he didn’t squander it. In his first game, he managed an average 27.0 yards per kick return, but had a huge 21-yard punt return (on top of four big catches for 36 yards on offense). Then, last week against the Dallas Cowboys, Kennedy had his breakout game. In his three kick return attempts, he brought them all over the team’s 40-yard line, averaging an impressive 40 yards per return on Thursday night. He added another 21-yard punt return, as well.
With Raymond returning to practice this week, the Lions face a good problem: keep Kennedy at the return game or go back to Raymond. It turns out, the answer is likely both. On Thursday, special teams coordinator Dave Fipp revealed that Kennedy has done enough to earn the kick returner job (although it’s unclear who will be back there with him—be it Jacob Saylors or Raymond). But when Raymond is healthy enough to play, he’ll retain punt return duties.
“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. “Leaf back, I would see him returning punts for sure.”
Fipp raved about Kennedy’s story as one of hard work and perseverance.
“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.”
Kennedy has been humble about his success. After the game, he gave full credit to his blocking, saying his role was just to run with speed and decisiveness. But his goal has always been to be ready and take advantage when his number is finally called.
“Any time you’re up and playing, you just want to be able to contribute in whatever way to help the team win. So, just happy I’ve been able to do that, honestly,” Kennedy said.
His opportunity will continue this week against a really good Los Angeles Rams team. Detroit will need every extra advantage they can get as 5.5-point road underdogs.
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