Detroit Lions receiver and return specialist Tom Kennedy is done for 2026 after tests showed a significant MCL injury in his knee that is expected to require surgery, Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport reported on Monday.
The news is a second blow from Sunday’s 45-21 win over the Arizona Cardinals, which also cost the Lions linebacker Devin White to a broken forearm. Kennedy was hurt in the first half at State Farm Stadium. Garafolo added that head coach Dan Campbell had hoped the injury would keep Kennedy out only briefly, until more testing showed how much damage there was. The team had not made a roster move involving Kennedy by Monday afternoon.
#Lions returner Tom Kennedy suffered a significant MCL injury that is expected to require surgery and will end his season, sources tell me and @RapSheet. HC Dan Campbell was hopeful Kennedy’s absence would be shorter but further testing revealed the extent of the damage. pic.twitter.com/qhZfMKlGpI
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) October 12, 2026
A hole on special teams
Kennedy’s value to Detroit has come almost entirely on returns. He made only 18 catches in 35 games after breaking into the league with the Lions in 2019, but he had been the team’s leading punt returner this season and its second option on kickoffs. Before leaving in Arizona he brought back two punts for 33 yards, with a long of 22.
The Lions already have a fallback in place. Amon-Ra St. Brown, the team’s top receiver, took over punt returns after Kennedy went down and averaged 18 yards on two returns, including a 31-yarder. Jacob Saylors stays the lead kick returner after bringing back four kickoffs for 108 yards on Sunday. Whether Campbell wants his No. 1 receiver fielding punts for the rest of the season is one of the questions the staff will settle over the off week.
Two injuries in one afternoon
White’s injury also looks likely to need surgery, and it is unclear whether he will play again this season. Detroit signed the veteran linebacker in August, and he had started all three games he appeared in while playing behind Jack Campbell and Derrick Barnes in the rotation. Dan Campbell said he hated losing White because the linebacker had been doing good things for the defense. Our report on White has more on his injury.
The win itself lifted Detroit to 3-2. Jahmyr Gibbs ran for 151 yards and passed Barry Sanders on a franchise list in the rout; the full box score is on the Game Center, and every Lions move is tracked on our transactions page.
What comes next
The Lions are off in Week 6, which gives them time to fill both roster spots. They return to host the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, October 25, at 4:25 p.m. EDT.
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