Lions Roll Into the Bye at Full Speed, but Losing Tom Kennedy Stings More Than You Think

Detroit hung 45 on Arizona and strolled into the bye. That's the fun part. The part that'll matter in November came Monday: Tom Kennedy is done for the season.

Dan Campbell confirmed Kennedy will need surgery on the knee he hurt fielding a punt early in the second quarter of the 45-21 win. "It was significant enough where he'll be out for the season," Campbell said, per the Detroit Free Press. "That's the stinker right there."

Our Take: don't shrug this off as "just a return man." Kennedy had nine kickoff returns for 223 yards entering Sunday, and two punt returns for 33 more against the Cardinals before he went down. Hidden yardage is how good teams beat good teams in January. Field position is a weapon, and Detroit just lost the guy carrying it.

The worst fix would be making Amon-Ra St. Brown the full-time punt returner. He took over that job after Kennedy went down Sunday. That's fine for one afternoon. It's not fine for 12 more games. You don't put your best receiver in front of a punt coverage team every week to save a roster spot.

Campbell said the team is looking at in-house options, including practice-squad receiver Dominic Lovett, while Brad Holmes and the scouts look outside the building. Jacob Saylors and Khalil Dorsey are already in the mix on kickoffs. Use the bye to find the answer and lock it in. Don't ride hot hands until Green Bay on October 25.

Detroit also lost linebacker Devin White, who needs surgery on a broken forearm. That's two contributors out in one afternoon, from a game they won by 24.

Motor City, enjoy the 45. Then get the special teams right, because this team is too good to give back field position for free.

Sources: [Detroit Free Press](https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2026/10/12/tom-kennedy-injury-update-knee-sprain-kos-lions-wr-for-season/92225284007/), [Lions Wire](https://lionswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2026/10/12/detroit-lions-injury-update-tom-kennedy/92219409007/), [NBC Sports](https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/report-lions-wr-tom-kennedy-is-expected-to-have-season-ending-mcl-surgery).