Kennedy (abdomen) is active for Thursday's game against the Vikings.
Kennedy was initially listed as questionable for Week 17, but he's been cleared to suit up Christmas Day. He'll handle his usual role as Detroit's top kick returner while also contributing as a depth option at wide receiver.
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Lions' Tom Kennedy: Questionable for Christmas Day
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Kennedy (abdomen) is listed as questionable for Thursday's game against Minnesota.
Kennedy was limited in all three walkthrough practices due to an abdominal injury, and his status may not be officially known until approximately 90 minutes before Thursday's 4:30 p.m. ET kickoff, when the Lions announce their list of inactive players. Jacob Saylors and Kalif Raymond would be slated to take on larger roles as returners on kickoffs and punts if Kennedy is not cleared to play.
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Lions' Tom Kennedy: Estimated as limited Tuesday
Rotowire
Kennedy (abdomen) was listed as a limited practice participant on Tuesday's estimated injury report.
Kennedy has been limited in each of the Lions' two walkthrough practices while working through an abdominal injury. He has one more opportunity to increase his practice participation and avoid an injury designation ahead of Thursday's game against the Vikings.
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Lions' Tom Kennedy: Nursing abdominal injury
Rotowire
Kennedy (abdomen) was listed as a limited participant on Monday's estimated practice report.
Kennedy was limited in Monday's walkthrough session due to an abdominal injury that he may have sustained during Sunday's loss to the Steelers, when he turned three kickoff returns into 77 yards. The limited tag indicates the injury isn't considered severe, and he would be on track to play against the Vikings on Christmas day were he to log a full practice over the next two days.
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Lions' Tom Kennedy: Limited offensive workload in win
Rotowire
Kennedy did not garner a target while recording 120 yards on kickoff returns and 21 yards on punt returns in Thursday's 44-30 win over Dallas.
Kennedy was set to operate in a more significant role on offense due to Amon-Ra St. Brown trending toward sitting with an ankle injury, but St. Brown was ultimately able to play. As a result, Kennedy's offensive snaps dropped to five total in Week 14, a significantly smaller figure than the 41 snaps on offense he logged Thanksgiving against Green Bay. The wide receiver has filled in admirably for Kalif Raymond (ankle) as a return specialist for Detroit over the last two weeks, compiling 201 kickoff return yards and 42 yards on punt returns. Whenever Raymond is able to return, Kennedy, who was signed to the active roster prior to Week 13 action, may become a healthy scratch on game days.
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Lions' Tom Kennedy: Signed to active roster
Rotowire
The Lions signed Kennedy to the active roster from the practice squad Wednesday.
Kennedy has spent the entire season on the Lions' practice squad and was elevated for the team's Week 11 win. He was ultimately inactive, though he'll have another chance to make his 2025 debut on Thursday against the Packers.
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Tom Kennedy: Returns to practice squad
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Kennedy reverted to the Lions' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.
Kennedy was elevated from the Lions' practice squad for the first time this season to provide depth at wide receiver in case Isaac TeSlaa was unable to play Sunday against the Lions due to an oblique injury. TeSlaa was cleared to play after going through pregame warmups, which led to Kennedy being a healthy scratch for Sunday's loss. Kennedy is eligible to be elevated to Detroit's active roster twice more this season.
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Lions' Tom Kennedy: Gets opportunity for Week 11
Rotowire
The Lions elevated Kennedy from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday.
Kennedy's elevation gives the Lions depth at wide receiver in case rookie third-rounder Isaac TeSlaa (oblique) is unable to play against the Eagles on Sunday. Kennedy appeared in four regular-season games in 2024, and he gives Detroit another option as a returner on kickoffs and punts.
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Tom Kennedy: Secures practice-squad role
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Kennedy signed with the Lions' practice squad Wednesday.
Kennedy played three preseason games and recorded four receptions for 27 yards. The 29-year-old wide receiver spent most of the 2024 season on the Lions' practice squad and was elevated four times, returning six kickoffs for 167 yards.
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Tom Kennedy: Let go by Lions
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The Lions waived Kennedy on Tuesday.
Kennedy spent most of the 2024 season on the Lions' practice squad, but he suited up in four games and recorded 167 kick-return yards and no catches. The 29-year-old will likely serve in a similar role in 2025.
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Tom Kennedy: Staying in Detroit
Rotowire
The Lions signed Kennedy to the practice squad Saturday.
Kennedy was signed to the Lions' active roster Dec. 21, but he was waived Thursday. He's appeared in four regular-season games for the Lions but has not registered a catch. Kennedy will stick around on Detroit's practice squad and will be available for elevation to the 53-man roster during the postseason.
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Tom Kennedy: Cut by Detroit
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The Lions waived Kennedy on Thursday.
Kennedy signed to the 53-man roster on Dec. 21 and played a total of seven offensive snaps and nine more on special teams across Weeks 16 and 17. He returned three kickoffs for 86 yards and one punt for nine yards. Kennedy wasn't targeted in the passing game and is a candidate to land back on the practice squad should be clear waivers.
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Tom Kennedy: Reverts to practice squad
Rotowire
Kennedy reverted to Detroit's practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.
Kennedy played five offensive snaps during Sunday's 20-16 loss versus the Buccaneers, and he failed to bring in his first target of the season. The Lions will be able to call him back up from the practice squad once more this year before they'd have to add him to the 53-man roster in order for him to be available.
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Tom Kennedy: Returns to practice squad
Rotowire
Kennedy reverted to the Lions' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's official transaction log.
Kennedy was elevated to the active roster prior to Sunday's 26-20 overtime win over the Rams, failing to produce any stats while playing four offensive snaps and six snaps on special teams. The wide receiver can be elevated two more times before the Lions would have to officially sign him to the 53-man roster.
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Lions' Tom Kennedy: Gets new contract
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Kennedy signed a reserve/future contract with the Lions on Tuesday, Justin Rogers of The Detroit News reports.
Kennedy was injured during training camp with Detroit, but after being waived with an injury settlement, he found his way back to the organization in November as a member of the practice squad. The 27-year-old has played in 20 career games -- all with the Lions -- and has recorded 14 catches for 195 yards on 25 targets.
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Lions' Tom Kennedy: Reverts to injured reserve
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Kennedy (upper body) reverted to Detroit's injured reserve Saturday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Kennedy was waived with an injury designation Friday after suffering an upper body issue in Wednesday's practice, though the specifics of this injury are still unclear. Barring any injury settlement, the 5-foot-10 wideout will now be forced to sit out the entirety of the 2023 campaign.
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Lions' Tom Kennedy: Lands reserve/future contract
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The Lions signed Kennedy to a reserve/future contract Monday, Tim Twentyman of the team's official site reports.
Kennedy accumulated the best stat line of his career over seven games with Detroit this season, catching eight of 15 targets for 141 yards. The 26-year-old has now appeared in 19 regular-season games over the last two years with the Lions, so it's not surprising to see the team wants to keep him around heading into the offseason. Kennedy will look to carve out a bigger role among this well-stocked receiving corps heading into the 2023 campaign.
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Tom Kennedy: Sticking with Detroit
Rotowire
The Lions re-signed Kennedy to the practice squad Monday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Kennedy was ruled a healthy scratch in back-to-back weeks before he was waived Saturday ahead of Sunday's win over the Jets. However, the 26-year-old cleared waivers Monday and will return to the Lions' practice squad, where he spent the first four weeks of the season. Kennedy has caught eight of 15 targets for 141 yards over seven games this season, and he should be first in line to be elevated from the practice squad should any of Detroit's wideouts miss time due to injury moving forward.
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Tom Kennedy: Waived Saturday
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Kennedy was waived by the Lions on Saturday, Jeff Risdon of USA Today reports.
Kennedy appeared in seven games for the Lions this year, catching eight of his 15 targets for 141 yards. Kennedy has not played in either of the past two games, as he found himself buried in the depth chart after Jameson Williams (knee) made his debut.
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Lions' Tom Kennedy: Remains out
Rotowire
Kennedy (coach's decision) is inactive Sunday against the Vikings.
Kennedy will sit for the second consecutive week, as the 26-year-old has dropped on the team's positional depth chart upon the activation of Jameson Williams to the 53-man roster. He'll work to earn another chance with the active roster Week 15 against the Jets.
