With wide receiver and return specialist Tom Kennedy ruled out for the remainder of the season because of a knee injury, the Detroit Lions have turned to veteran return specialist DeAndre Carter to bolster their depth. Detroit signed Carter to its practice squad after working him out on Thursday, per NFL insider Tom Pelissero. The move came as the team assessed other potential options, including wide receiver and returner Steven Sims, to help fill the gap.

Kennedy suffered an MCL injury during the Lions' win over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 5 and is expected to undergo surgery, ending his 2026 campaign. Before going down, the 30-year-old handled all of Detroit's punt returns and shared kickoff-return responsibilities with Jacob Saylors. He averaged 13.2 yards per punt return, ranking sixth in the NFL, and 24.8 yards per kickoff return this season.

Head coach Dan Campbell had indicated that the team would explore outside options to replace Kennedy.

Carter, 33, brings a wealth of NFL experience. The Sacramento State product went undrafted in 2015 and has played for multiple franchises. After spending time with several teams early in his career, he earned opportunities with the Philadelphia Eagles and Houston Texans in 2018. His subsequent stops included the Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders, Los Angeles Chargers, Las Vegas Raiders and Cleveland Browns.

Carter appeared in four games for the Browns during the 2025 season before a knee injury led to his placement on injured reserve in late September. He has not appeared in an NFL game this season.

Across his eight-year NFL career, Carter has recorded 155 punt returns for 1,508 yards, averaging 9.7 yards per attempt. He has also returned 144 kickoffs for 3,399 yards, an average of 23.6 yards, and scored a 101-yard touchdown on a kickoff return.

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Although primarily known for his work on special teams, Carter has also contributed on offense. He has accumulated 117 receptions for 1,331 yards and six touchdowns, along with 16 rushing attempts for 99 yards in 111 games. His best receiving season came with the Chargers in 2021, when he caught 36 passes for 538 yards.

Carter's arrival could help the Lions reduce their reliance on offensive starters in the return game. Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown handled punt-return duties following Kennedy's injury. Running back Jacob Saylors remains an option on kickoffs.