Lions Predicted to Part Ways With Talented WR After 7 Seasons in Detroit

The Detroit Lions have overhauled their team since bringing on head coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes in early 2021, turning over almost their entire roster and growing into a Super Bowl contender.

There are a few exceptions who survived the roster purge, including one talented wide receiver who has returned to Detroit for several stints on the practice squad but could now find himself on the wrong side of the roster bubble.

End of the Line for Tom Kennedy

Christian Booher of SI.com offered an early prediction of the team’s final 53-man roster, predicting the team would keep six wide receivers but part ways with veteran Tom Kennedy. The 28-year-old has been on and off of the roster, re-joining the Lions over six seasons before signing a futures contract in January to return for a seventh.

As ESPN reported, Kennedy earned buzz in college as a multi-sport athlete, playing both lacrosse and football at Bryant University. Before coming into the NFL, he was drafted by the Boston Cannons of Major League Lacrosse in 2018. Kennedy signed with the Lions the following year, making him the first person to play in the NFL and a professional lacrosse league.

Booher predicted that the Lions would continue leaning on All-Pro Amon-Ra St. Brown, with Jameson Williams and veteran Tim Patrick and Kalif Raymond also playing important roles in the offense.

“The Lions have a solid nucleus of talent at the wide receiver position, with St. Brown leading the way while looking to put together his third-straight All-Pro season,” Booher wrote. “He’s joined by Williams, who is once again expected to have a huge year, and a pair of veterans in Patrick and Raymond.”

Rookie Isaac TeSlaa, who was drafted after the Lions traded up in the third round, could also make a strong bid or a big role, Booher added.

“TeSlaa and [Dominic] Lovett add unique skill sets to the group as well,” he wrote. “TeSlaa is a big and fast wideout with great hands, while Lovett is a smaller, shiftier wideout who is consistently a yards-after-catch threat.”

Make-or-Break Season for Jameson Williams

The Lions are looking for big things this season from Williams, who suffered through some ups and downs to start his career with the Lions. After spending most of his season rehabbing an injury suffered in college, Williams has been hit with suspensions in each of the last two years.

Williams has also turned in some strong play, earning praise from head coach Dan Campbell.