The Detroit Lions will be looking for special team reinforcements. Running back Tom Kennedy suffered a knee injury against the Arizona Cardinals that will sideline him for the entire 2026 season. It was a cruel blow to both player and team. As for Kennedy, he’s been a mainstay on the Lions’ practice squad since 2019 (during the Matt Patricia days), but 2026 is his best chance to establish a permanent roster spot for himself. After a solid start to the season as a kickoff and punt returner, he is now headed to Injured Reserve.
As for the Lions, they now have to scout for his replacement. Kennedy has had 15 returns so far in 2026, and Detroit will need someone to replace that productivity. Will their new returner come from the active 53-man roster? Will they raise someone from the practice squad? Or will they look for outside options in the form of free agents or practice squads?
Let’s take a look at some of the tires Detroit could kick in the coming days.
- Father Martin: limited punt return experience (two in college, zero in UFL or NFL), no kickoff returns
- Amon-Ra St. Brown: has experience as a punt returner in college (19 returns for 107) and the Lions’ emergency punt return option (he had two punt returns against the Cardinals after Kennedy’s injury)
- Isaac TeSlaa: zero kickoff or punt return experience at any level
- Jameson Williams: zero punt returns in college or NFL, but had a role as a kickoff returner in 2021 at Alabama (10 returns for 352 yards and two touchdowns)
- James Gibbs: zero punt returns in college or NFL, but frequent kickoff returner at Georgia Tech and Alabama (44 returns for 1052 yards and one touchdown)
- Jacob Saylors: one of Detroit’s current kickoff returners (13 returns for 338 yards), but has no experience returning punts at any level
- John Varkey: limited experience as a kickoff returner in college (one return) and NFL (four returns), no experience as a punt returner
- Khalil Dorsey: has 16 career kickoff returns, though none since 2024
Of these indoor options, St. Brown has the most experience returning punts and has shown the ability to do damage (he had a 31-yard return against the Cardinals). However, given his importance on offense, do the Lions want to risk him on special teams? Dan Campbell himself said that he does not want St. Brown for most of the game.
The same can be said about Gibbs and Williams on the kick returner: sure, they can be electric returners, but trotting them out in what is usually a violent-yet-insignificant game may not be advised. As for Vaki and Dorsey, they may have more value on special teams as blockers and tacklers than returners.
- Lucky Jackson: one punt return in college, but had 13 punt returns for 153 yards in the UFL in 2026. Also had one kickoff return in the UFL for 23 yards
- Lawrence Keys: recorded 18 punt returns for 229 yards and 39 kickoff returns for 942 yards in two UFL seasons
- Dominic Lovett: a punt return in college; is participating in the kick return competition at this year’s training camp
- Jabari Small: two preseason kickoff returns with the Lions in 2025 and 2026, zero punt returns
The name that stands out the most on this list is Keys, who not only has significant experience returning both kickoffs and punts, but also has recently experience returning kickoffs and punts. It is worth remembering that the UFL pioneered the dynamic kickoff that was later adopted and adapted by the NFL. Keys has played in that format before, whereas players like Gibbs or Williams (who have college experience) haven’t.
- Jabrill Peppers: 87 punt returns and 34 kickoff returns since being drafted in 2017. However, he hasn’t returned since 2023
- Tyreek Hill: has been an electric player since being drafted in 2016 (13,681 all-purpose yards and five return touchdowns), but has been hampered by injury and legal issues
- Raheem Mostert: significant kickoff return experience (76 returns for 1,846 yards), but no punt returns and currently 34 years old
- Taysom Hill: multifaceted weapon on offense and special teams and has crossover with Dan Campbell from their time with the New Orleans Saints, but is currently 36 years old and has just six kickoff returns since 2019
- Tyler Lockett: former elite returner (three-time All-Pro with 130 punt returns and 112 kickoff returns from 2015 to 2018), but hasn’t returned a kick since 2022 and is currently 34 years old
- Caulin Lacy: 2026 undrafted rookie waived with injury settlement by New York Jets. Recorded 86 punt returns and 34 kickoff returns in college
- Cedric Wilson: Wilson shined as a receiver in the preseason with the Lions but suffered a knee injury and was placed on Injured Reserve. However, he was released with an injury settlement on August 26, meaning he will be eligible to re-sign after the settlement period and three weeks have passed. Wilson has 37 career punt returns and three kickoff returns, but he didn’t see action there in the preseason.
While I think it’s worth checking the injury status of Lacy and Wilson, none of the other players stand out. Experience is undoubtedly important, but age is a factor that works against most of these names. Most of the younger and/or experienced returners are signed to the active or practice squad rosters—the rest are available for a reason.
- AJ Henning (MIA): 79 punt returns and 33 kickoff returns in college with Michigan (2020-2022) and Northwestern (2023-2024)
- Gage Larvadain (BAL): 24 punt returns for 167 yards with the Cleveland Browns in 2025 as an undrafted rookie
- James Proche (CLE): veteran punt returner with 68 career punt returns for 591 yards
- Trebor Peña (JAX): 2026 undrafted rookie, recorded 63 punt returns and 37 kickoff returns in six-year college career
- Kolbe Katsis (DEN): 2026 undrafted rookie, recorded three punt returns for 39 yards (including a 28-yarder) and four kickoff returns for 107 yards after being lifted for Denver’s Week 3 game
- Deven Thompson (LV): undersized (5-foot-8 and 155 pounds) but has 91 combined punt and kickoff returns since 2022
- Dylan Drummond (ATL): was an undrafted rookie with the Lions in 2023. Limited pro experience (four kickoff returns in 2025) but had 21 punt returns and 18 kickoff returns in college at Eastern Michigan
- Xavier Smith (SF): Smith was the Rams’ starting punt returner from 2024 to 2026 but was waived on October 2. Although he has plenty of experience as a returner (43 punt returns and 19 kickoff returns), he garnered some infamy for fending off two punts in the Rams’ 2025 NFC Championship loss, one of which set up the Rams’ Los Angeles Seahawks game.
Practice squad poaching could be an option for the Lions, especially since Kennedy’s injury would open up a roster spot. There’s a mix of veterans and youth for Detroit to think about, and there isn’t necessarily a right strategy. Of these players, I would pay more attention to Thompkins and Katsis. Thompkins has enough professional experience that he can jump right in without missing a beat. As for Katsis, he had a muffed punt offset by a penalty, but Broncos special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi—a veteran coordinator who overlapped with Dan Campbell in Miami and New Orleans—remained optimistic about Katsis’ potential as a returner.
The Lions have many ways to explore, but I think the most likely option is to promote internally. I don’t want to risk injuring a player like St. Brown or Gibbs on special teams despite the potential upside. Therefore, given the lack of alternatives on the active roster, I think the best option is to sign someone from the practice squad.
That guy is shaping up to be Lawrence Keys, who is probably the easiest option to replace Kennedy’s production as a kickoff and punt returner. Kennedy has barely been involved in the offense (just one snap this season), so his replacement could be a pure special teamer. The keys fit the bill in that regard. It’s worth remembering that Keys was waived with an injury settlement in early August and didn’t get a chance to play in the preseason or most of training camp. Keys was re-signed on September 30 (likely due to his injury rehabilitation), and the fact that the Lions signed him so quickly is probably an indication that they like his ability. It’s also worth noting that he wasn’t signed as a corresponding move due to an injury—when Amen Ogbongbemiga was signed to the active roster, the Lions signed Keys outright. The Lions want him on the roster despite having no injury concerns at receiver or returner.
Keys looks like the most obvious solution for the Lions. Although he has no NFL experience, I would feel confident enough in his performance in the UFL to slot him into the special teams unit.