The Detroit Lions’ most experienced kick returner is healthy and ready for the changes coming to one of his primary domains.
Wide receiver Kalif Raymond is a full participant in training camp after he missed all three postseason games to close the 2023 season, KO’d by a left knee injury in the fourth quarter of the regular-season finale.
“I did (recover well),” Raymond said. “I’ve been training really, really hard. I had a really strong offseason, put in a lot of work, and now the body is starting to callus over and I started to put some work in.”
Raymond, who has served as the team’s primary returner since joining as a free agent in 2021, eagerly rejoined a “more mature” wide receiver room that has targets available due to the departure of Josh Reynolds in free agency. He has also returned to handling work in return duties in practice as a part of a rotation.
He will be in the mix to handle returns for the Lions on kickoffs under the new rules established by the NFL this offseason. Under the new rules, teams still will kick off from their own 35-yard line, but the coverage unit will line up in a stationary position at the receiving team’s 40-yard line. Return teams must have nine players in the setup zone between the 30- and 35-yard lines, with up to two returners in the landing zone between the goal line and 20-yard line, with touchbacks now coming out to the 30-yard line.
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