The Detroit Lions have opened up three spots on the 53-man roster, placing wideout Tom Kennedy, offensive lineman Ben Bartch and linebacker Devin White on injured reserve.
Kennedy’s situation was the most serious of the bunch. Head coach Dan Campbell said before the team’s Week 6 bye that Kennedy would need surgery and be done for the season.
“No, Tom, bad news," said Campbell. "All right, Tom's going to need surgery.
So, it was significant enough to where he'll be out for the season. That's the stinker there.
We already talked about (Lions linebacker) Devin White. He'll require surgery, but we'll get him back at some point.
It'll just be a while. As of right now, I don't have an answer for you on contingency.
I would rather not have (Lions wideout Amon-Ra) St. Brown back there for a whole game taking punts.
"I see him, he'll probably have some depending on where we're at on the field, but I don't want him to be our full-time punt returner," Campbell commented further. "So, we've got a couple of in-house candidates.
We're looking for some guys, Brad (Holmes), and then we're looking right now to see what's out there, what's available. So, luckily we're not crunched to have to do anything just yet, but we're already looking.”
Detroit recently brought veteran returner DeAndre Carter onto the practice squad, a move that could set him up for a role as the punt returner against the Green Bay Packers next week.
Bartch’s stint also came up short, with the competition at left guard never really developing into something meaningful. The Lions had wanted him to push Christian Mahogany for the job, but Bartch wasn’t healthy long enough to make that battle real. When Cade Mays comes back, Juice Scruggs is expected to keep pressuring the third-year lineman.
White’s absence creates another opening in the linebacker group, where Malcolm Rodriguez, Trevor Nowaske and rookie Jimmy Rolder should all see more snaps. That unit bounced back against the Cardinals, but its early-season work has still fallen short of expectations.
In Other News...
Brian Branch Could Decide If The Lions Defense Can Be Saved
The Lions have spent much of the season searching for answers on defense, and the recent win over the Arizona Cardinals offered at least a small sign that the group can tighten up. Even so, the unit remains buried near the bottom of the league in several key areas, which is why Brian Branchs return has taken on so much importance around the building.
Branch is expected back after missing time since December with a torn Achilles, and the Lions know there will be some rust to work through once hes on the field again. But his versatility is exactly the kind of piece Detroit has been missing, the sort of player who can change the look and feel of a defense that badly needs help in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Bye Week Puts Fresh Focus On Roster Needs Ahead
The early bye week has given Detroit a rare chance to reset its roster as much as its game plan, with Brian Branch expected back in the mix and the front office also looking to patch holes created by three players landing on injured reserve. For a Lions team trying to stay ahead of the curve, the pause in the schedule is arriving at a useful time, offering a window to think beyond the immediate week-to-week grind and toward the bigger picture of where depth still needs help.
That is where the college scouting lens comes in, with a fresh look at several prospects who could fit the kinds of needs Detroit may be preparing to address. Smith, Jackson Jr., Tengesdal, Satuala and Borjon each bring a different profile, and the evaluations attached to them range from strengths that pop on recent film to concerns that keep their draft ranges from getting too cozy. With upcoming college games still ahead, the Lions have time to keep gathering information, but the list is already a reminder that the bye week is about more than rest. [Read more 🡒]
Aidan Hutchinson May Finally Have What Lions Fans Have Wanted
Aidan Hutchinsons start to the 2026 season has been solid, if not yet the sort of dominant run Lions fans have been waiting for. He has four sacks and a pass rush win rate that ranks in the 66th percentile, and while Detroits defense has had its share of issues, ESPN analyst Seth Walder still sees a path to Defensive Player of the Year if Hutchinson can take another step and the unit around him gives him more support.
DJ Wonnums emergence may be part of the reason that path suddenly looks more realistic. Hutchinson has praised the way the two edge rushers complement each other and has talked about wanting both players, and the Lions, to keep building on that chemistry. For a pass rush that has often leaned too heavily on Hutchinson alone, the next stretch could determine whether he keeps drawing the kind of attention that turns a good season into a special one. [Read more 🡒]