The Detroit Lions have made no secret of their intentions when it comes to their new punter/kick returner.
After Tom Kennedy suffered a season-ending injury in their last game against the Arizona Cardinals, the Lions will replace him on both punt and kick returns with newly signed receiver DeAndre Carter. Special teams coordinator Dave Fipp said they don’t view the job as completely open at this point in the week.
“I don’t know that it’s like it’s completely open. I think DeAndre Carter has a lot of experience. He’s probably going to come in and return punts for us and kickoffs for us in the game, along with (Jacob) Saylors. And we’re just going to carry on like we always have,” Fipp said.
Carter is currently on the practice squad, so in order to play, he will either be signed to the 53-man roster this week or receive a game-day elevation from the practice squad.
Fipp noted that there are players, like Lucky Jackson, who have punt return experience, but it pales in comparison to Carter’s resume. Carter, who entered the league in 2015, has returned 155 career punts for 1,508 yards (9.7 average) and 144 kickoffs for 3,399 yards (23.6 average).
Carter had a turbulent NFL career. Despite entering the league in 2015, he didn’t see the field until 2018. He was drafted by the Ravens, Raiders, Patriots, and 49ers before he played his first NFL game—ironically with the Philadelphia Eagles and their special teams coach at the time, Dave Fipp.
Fipp said he always had respect for Carter’s tenacity and the way he played.
“He bounced back, kept fighting, trying to do it,” Fipp said. “I think we’re in Week 4 or something like that, I believe. It was when Darren Sproles went down. And then he came in, we’re playing against Tennessee, and he did what he does. He catching the ball, he competed, he gets downfield, he’s quick, very competitive. His story is like the ultimate story of just overcoming all obstacles, and he always plays the game.