Give it up for Lions wide receiver and return man Kalif Raymond. The hero of Detroit’s Week 15 win over the New York Jets won the NFC’s Defensive Player of the Week honor for his efforts.
Raymond returned a punt for a 47-yard touchdown after the New York Jets’ opening drive, giving the Lions a 7-0 lead. His touchdown, Detroit’s first punt return TD of the season, held up in the end of the 20-17 win in New York.
It was the only time Raymond fielded the ball, but he also deserves credit for some saved yardage on another Jets punt. Raymond successfully diverted the coverage team away from a punt that should have been downed by the Jets inside the Detroit 5-yard line. It instead went for a touchback.
Raymond is the fifth Lions player to win a Player of the Week award this year. Kicker Michael Badgley also won the Special Teams Player of the Week award back in Week 13. Rookies Kerby Joseph and Aidan Hutchinson won Defensive Player of the Week awards, while wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown earned an Offensive honor back in Week 2.
