The Detroit Lions had their best game of the season before their bye week. They righted the ship with a blowout win in Arizona and entered the bye week with some positive momentum. Unfortunately, they lost two veterans to significant injuries. Linebacker Devin White and return specialist Tom Kennedy will be sidelined for most, if not the rest, of the season.
Kennedy's absence is particularly noteworthy. Even though he didn't have much of a role in the passing game, he was the team's primary return man. He was as proven as they come, having earned the trust of the Lions coaching staff in both punts and kickoffs.
After he exited the Cardinals game, Amon-Ra St. Brown took over some of these duties. This was obviously unsustainable, as the Lions were never going to use their star receiver on returns. Many were wondering whether Detroit would find an internal or an external solution.
Last week, the Lions hinted at the answer to this question. They signed veteran WR DeAndre Carter to the practice squad. The fact that Carter had a ton of experience in the return game in his eight-year career suggested that the Lions were considering having him take over on special teams.
That is exactly what the plan is. On Thursday, the Lions signed Carter to the active roster from the practice squad. Special teams coordinator Dave Fipp said that Carter will return punts and kicks, along with RB Jacob Saylors, per ESPN's Eric Woodyard.
Lions sign DeAndre Carter to the active roster to replace Tom Kennedy as the return man
Carter has bounced around the league his entire career, so he is all too familiar with the expectation of having to deliver for a new team immediately. The Lions will be the eighth team Carter has played for in his career, which includes a 2024 campaign with the Chicago Bears.
He then spent last season with the Browns, but his campaign was cut short after he suffered a knee injury against Detroit in Week 4. He had returned 11 kicks for 274 yards and six punts for 56 yards for Cleveland before his season-ending injury.
In another move on Thursday, the Lions signed former Patriots safety Myles Bryant to the practice squad spot that opened up. The Lions still have two more spots available on the 53-man roster. If and how they will fill them remains to be seen.
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