Kalif Raymond thought his NFL career was over following a rather disappointing 2017 season with the New York Jets and Giants.
"I was struggling," Raymond said of that season. "Had a lot of fear, a lot of doubt. I remember I actually walked off the field, I was playing for the Giants, and I said, 'I just played my last NFL game.' I thought that in my head. I had a choice during that time during that offseason I was like, 'I can either go in the tank and just kind of quit or I can give everything I have.'"
Raymond chose the latter. He put his head down and went to work that offseason. He said he overtrained, if there's such a thing. After not playing in 2018, he got another opportunity signing with Tennessee and in 2019 and 2020. He carved out a role as a return man.
After GM Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell were hired in 2021, Holmes went to Campbell in the offseason and asked him what he thought of Raymond, a free agent at the time.
"Early spring we were fresh on the job, and he said, 'Hey, take a peek at this guy from Tennessee. He's really a returner, kind of gadget. You think there's a place for him on offense?'" Campbell said Sunday. "And I watched about 10 plays, and I was like, 'Yeah. Absolutely there is, you know. Take this guy in a heartbeat,' and it's been a blessing ever since to get (Raymond) here. What a pro he is."
The Lions signed Raymond, re-signed him and then re-signed him again to a two-year deal ahead of the 2023 season, and he's become one of the glue pieces for this football team. Not only is he one of the consistently good punt returners in the league over the last few seasons, but he can also play all three receiver positions.
Raymond earned a game ball from Campbell after recording 190 punt return yards on five returns (38.0 avg.) that included a 64-yard return and 90-yard touchdown return. He also caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from Jared Goff in the third quarter to become the only player in team history to record a punt return touchdown and receiving touchdown in the same game.
"I tell guys all the time, 'Go talk to (Raymond)' Some of these young guys. I'm like, 'You want to know reality in this league? Go talk to him," Campbell said of Raymond's journey.
"He'll give you some perspective.' You don't know, what is it going to take? Why did the things happen that they did? It could be circumstance, it could be the coaching staff just doesn't see the value, it could be he's too small. It could be, 'Well, he's a returner only.' It could be, 'Well at that time, he wasn't playing with confidence.'
"And I'm using him as an example, but there's so many factors that go into it. And I know this, everything for him, it's been perfect, and it's been the right mixture and the environment's been great. And he's been outstanding and his confidence level and everything that he brings to us as a player. I can stand up here and go all day talking about (Raymond). What a stud he is. But he's just, he's one of those guys. He's one of those guys."
SONIC AND KNUCKLES
Sunday was the 19th career game running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs have played together. Widely considered the best running back duo in the NFL, the two have the statistics to back it up.
They combined for 160 rushing yards and two touchdowns against the Titans Sunday and now are the first running duo in league history to each accumulate at least 1,500 scrimmage yards and 15 scrimmage touchdowns in a tandem's first 20 games together.
RODRIGUEZ INJURY
The Lions had to rely on their linebacker depth Sunday after Malcolm Rodriguez injured his ankle in the first quarter and did not return to the game. Jalen Reeves-Maybin ended up filling a lot of the void with his biggest defensive contribution of the season.
Campbell said he wouldn't know the severity of the injury until Monday, but he didn't think it would be something that would keep Rodriguez out long-term.
"Obviously, he didn't finish the game so that's not good," Campbell said. "But I don't think it'll be something like this is going to take the rest of the season. It's nothing like that."
EXTRA POINT
Goff on having 85 passing yards and three touchdown passes: "Yeah, you know, I'll take it. I've had a lot of games where I've had a whole lot of yards and not a lot of touchdowns. So, those even themselves out."
