After losing special teams star Tom Kennedy to a season-ending injury at the Arizona Cardinals last week, the Detroit Lions are signing a new return man to their practice squad.
Per Netflix's Tom Pelissero, the Lions are signing veteran wide receiver and return specialist DeAndre Carter to their practice squad after a Thursday workout.
Veteran WR DeAndre Carter is signing with the Lions practice squad, per source. An experienced return man.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 15, 2026
Carter played four games with Cleveland last season and has extensive return-game experience over an eight-season NFL career with the Eagles, Texans, Bears, Commanders, Chargers, Raiders, and Browns. The 5-foot-8, 190-pound receiver and return man has caught 117 passes for 1,331 yards and six touchdowns across
111 games played.
Carter has returned 155 punts for 1,508 yards and 9.7 yards per punt return. The Sacramento State product has returned 144 kickoffs for 3,399 yards and one touchdown, averaging 23.6 yards per kick return.
Kennedy handled all punt returns for the Lions this season before his injury, ranking sixth in the NFL at 13.2 yards per punt return. Kennedy split kickoff return duties, averaging 24.9 yards per kick return on 10 attempts.
Carter was one of two return men to work out for the Lions on Thursday, alongside Steven Sims.
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This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Detroit Lions signing veteran WR, return man to practice squad
