The Detroit Lions didn’t add any tight ends to their roster as they placed star Sam LaPorta on injured reserve Saturday. Instead, the Lions appear hopeful to replace LaPorta with a pair of receivers — Jackson Meeks and Tom Kennedy — against the Philadelphia Eagles during Week 11.
The Lions elevated Kennedy and Meeks as part of several roster moves Saturday. Also on the eve of facing the defending Super Bowl champions, the Lions released defensive lineman Pat O’Connor and signed offensive lineman Michael Niese.
Finally, Detroit also placed LaPorta on injured reserve.
With Meeks and Kennedy added, the Lions will have both an extra veteran pass-catcher and a undrafted rookie who impressed during the preseason.
Kennedy has been with the Lions organization since 2019. Over 24 appearances, including one start, Kennedy has posted 14 catches for 195 yards.
In his 14 games with Detroit, he has played 400 offensive snaps and 71 on special teams.
Meeks didn’t make the Lions roster to begin 2025. But after releasing him following the preseason, the team signed Meeks to their first practice squad.
This will be his second NFL game. The Lions also elevated Meeks for Week 4.
In that game, Meeks played 13 snaps overall, including four on offense. He didn’t receive a target.
Lions Giving Jackson Meeks Another Opportunity
While Meeks was an afterthought during his NFL debut, the 22-year-old has the talent to shine if called on. Even as an undrafted free agent in a receiver room that included Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and Isaac TeSlaa, Meeks stood out in the Lions preseason.
“He’s somebody that we’ve feel like has improved every day, every week. So you’re always going to take notice of those guys,” Campbell told the media in August. “He’s going to be somebody we talk about tomorrow. He’s going to come up because he’s elevated his play, and he is noticed.”
Meeks obviously plays a different position than LaPorta. But the Lions choosing to add two receivers and not a tight end for the Eagles game is an indication that the offense could feature more three and four-wide sets Sunday.
That could give Meeks and/or Kennedy an opportunity to take a piece of LaPorta’s target share.
Meeks began his college career at Georgia, where he had just 10 receptions and 132 receiving yards in three seasons. After transferring to Syracuse, Meeks posted 78 receptions, 1,021 receiving yards and seven touchdowns as a senior in 2024.
Lions Also Elevate WR Tom Kennedy
With Kennedy’s elevation, the 29-year-old is set to make his 2025 debut.
Similar to Meeks, Kennedy arrived in Detroit as an undrafted free agent in 2019. Kennedy has appeared in a game every season for the team since then, and he’s been waived several times. However, he’s never signed with another NFL organization.
Kennedy’s loyalty will see him get an opportunity in Week 11.
Last season, he appeared in four games but only receive one target and didn’t make the catch. Kennedy played 16 offensive snaps and 20 on special teams during four games in 2024.
His last reception came in 2022. During that campaign, he had eight catches for 141 yards, averaging 17.6 yards per catch.
He received 15 targets during 2022. Kennedy played in a career-high 12 contests in 2021.
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