Detroit Lions address return game, sign DeAndre Carter to active roster

On Thursday, the Detroit Lions (3-2) announced that recently-signed practice squad wide receiver and specialist DeAndre Carter had been signed to the active roster. Carter will serve as the team's designated punt returner and help with kick returns.

“I think DeAndre Carter’s got a lot of experience. He’ll probably step in and return punts for us and kickoffs for us in the game, along with (Jacob) Saylors. And we’ll just keep going as it’s been,” Lions special teams coordinator Dave Fipp said Thursday.

Lions announce roster moves:

Signed WR DeAndre Carter to the Active Roster from the Practice Squad.

Signed S Myles Bryant to the Practice Squad. pic.twitter.com/u6T5grLZAc

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) October 22, 2026

After Tom Kennedy suffered a season-ending injury at the Arizona Cardinals, the Lions needed to act fast to find a replacement return man. Although practice squad receivers Lucky Jackson and Dominic Lovett were in the mix for the crucial special teams role, Carter’s experience was viewed as the deciding factor.

Carter played four games with Cleveland last season and has extensive return-game experience over an eight-season NFL career with the Eagles, Texans, Bears, Commanders, Chargers, Raiders, and Browns. The 5-foot-8, 190-pound receiver and return man has caught 117 passes for 1,331 yards and six touchdowns across 111 games played.

Carter has returned 155 punts for 1,508 yards and 9.7 yards per punt return. The Sacramento State product has returned 144 kickoffs for 3,399 yards and one touchdown, averaging 23.6 yards per kick return.

"I just come in and do what I do, man. This is a business, and I come in and I work, try to take care of my part, and then if it's what the coaches want, it's what the coaches want," Carter told Brad Galli Thursday. "I'm just grateful for the opportunity that they gave me here to play and contribute to this team and to the unit. I'm excited about it."

INTERVIEW: DeAndre Carter has been staying ready for this moment, joining the Lions as the team's new punt and kick returner.

The NFL veteran was working out in Las Vegas when his agent called to say Detroit wanted to put him through a workout. The Lions ultimately signed him,… pic.twitter.com/r9CX75TuYx

— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) October 22, 2026

The Lions and Packers are scheduled to kick off at 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday, Oct. 25 at Ford Field, with play-by-play announcer Kevin Burkhardt and color analyst Tom Brady calling the game, and Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi reporting from the sidelines for FOX.