Overview
- Detroit signed Tom Kennedy from the practice squad on Thursday, Sept. 10, and special teams coordinator Dave Fipp confirmed he will return punts and be in the kickoff mix for Sunday’s opener against the New Orleans Saints.
- The move fills the Lions’ final active roster spot and gives Detroit a fifth available receiver while the team added defensive back Natrone Brooks to the practice squad as a backfill.
- Kennedy, with the Lions since 2019, has limited offensive snaps but has produced in the return game, posting 16.7 yards on three punt returns and 27.9 yards on 16 kickoff returns in 2025.
- Because Kennedy is a vested veteran, signing him to the 53‑man roster fully guarantees his Week 1 contract, a factor the club weighed instead of using a temporary practice‑squad elevation.
- The promotion gives Detroit an experienced, low‑cost internal option to cover a punt‑ and kickoff‑return vacancy and provides roster flexibility while Brooks provides extra secondary depth given early availability concerns in the defensive back group.