THIRD DOWN: HEARTBEAT GUY
Campbell and special teams coordinator Dave Fipp were talking this past Wednesday, and Fipp told Campbell he thought they should let returner Kalif Raymond cut it loose a little bit more this week against the Browns on some of the punt returns.
Raymond was fearless on the afternoon, and the Lions were rewarded early in the fourth quarter with a game-changing play.
Every roster needs players like Raymond, those glue pieces that can wear so many hats. He’s not only consistently one of the best punt returners in the NFL year after year, but he always seems to have a clutch catch as Detroit’s No. 3 receiver. He also does a terrific job doing the dirty work as a blocker on the perimeter in the run game.
Raymond’s 65-yard punt return touchdown early in the fourth quarter broke the game open for the Lions. It was Raymond’s third career punt-return touchdown, all with Detroit, which is tied for fourth most in franchise history.
“He’s amazing,” Lions quarterback Jared Goff said of Raymond. “He’s one of those heartbeat guys for us. Does everything right, is a great guy to be around, is a mentor and role model for all these guys. I love having him as a teammate. He’s incredible. He breathes life into people and it’s fun seeing him succeed like that.”
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