The Detroit Lions appear to have found a replacement for Kalif Raymond — Greg Dortch.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported Wednesday the Lions signed Dortch to a 1-year contract.
Dortch has NFL experience as both a kickoff and punt returner. He will also provide the Lions wide receiver depth.
From 2023-25, he played for new Detroit offensive coordinator Drew Petzing with the Arizona Cardinals.
“A reunion with new Lions OC Drew Petzing, who coached the speedy Dortch the past three years in Arizona,” wrote Pelissero on X.
A reunion with new new Lions OC Drew Petzing, who coached the speedy Dortch the past three years in Arizona.
In three seasons with Petzing as his offensive coordinator, Dortch posted 90 catches for 828 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.
Over his entire six-year NFL career, he had 145 receptions for 1,310 yards and 10 scores.
Dortch has also returned punts and kickoffs throughout his career. In 2025, he averaged a career-best 11.6 yards per punt return.
Dotch also had 26.2 yards per kickoff return during last season.
Lions Sign WR Greg Dortch to 1-Year Contract: Report
Detroit lost Kalif Raymond to Ben Johnson and the Chicago Bears during NFL free agency. So, it makes sense the team would bring in a receiver who can make an impact as a returner.
Dortch fits that bill. He hasn’t filled the stat sheet as much as Raymond, but Dortch does a lot of things well. He’s also appeared to improve as a returner with age.
In addition to his career-best punt return average during 2025, Dortch eclipsed the 26 yards per kickoff return mark for the second straight year.
The fact Dortch is also familiar with Petzing’s offense is an added bonus. The wideout can help the other Lions playmakers learn the new system.
Dortch joined the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2019. It’s taken a few years, but he has has carved out a nice role for himself at the professional level.
“Smooth, fluid slot receiver whose smallish build is overshadowed by his toughness in the middle of the field and talent as a return man,” wrote NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein during the 2019 draft process. “Dortch is productive, but has issues finishing contested catches and will need to run his routes with greater focus and urgency in order to maximize separation from defenders.
“He has the hands and quickness to become a future starting slot, but there will be teams who scratch him from their board due to his lack of size.”
Lions Replacing Kalif Raymond
One of the most underrated free agency losses the Lions suffered this offseason was at punt returner.
Raymond made second-team All-Pro as a returner in both 2022 and 2024 with Detroit. In 2022, he averaged 13.2 yards per punt returner and took one back for a touchdown.
During 2024, Raymond led the NFL with 413 punt return yards and averaged a career-best 13.8 yards per return.
His punt average dropped considerably in 2025. But Raymond again took one back for a score.
Raymond didn’t return a lot of kickoffs, but he was very involved in the Detroit offense. Over five seasons, he posted 171 receptions for 2,185 receiving yards with eight touchdowns.
Dortch is now the front runner to replace Raymond on offense and special teams. The Lions, though, do have Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and Isaac TeSlaa returning on the receiver depth chart. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs and tight end Sam LaPorta are also heavily involved in the Detroit passing game.
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