{"podcast":{"title":"The Detroit Lions Podcast","slug":"the-detroit-lions-podcast-1064987","podcast_index_feed_id":1064987,"rss_url":"https://feeds.megaphone.fm/TTEOS7469992862","website_url":"https://www.detroitlionspodcast.com","image_url":"https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/413693c4-bf81-11ed-a4b0-3ffe043c9879/image/DetroitLionsPodcast_ID3.png?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress","author":"The Detroit Lions Podcast","episode_count":1040,"summary":"The Detroit Lions Podcast is an independent, fan-run show covering the Detroit Lions every day — and has since 2015. Hosted by Chris with co-host and managing editor Jeff Risdon, the show breaks down every game with live post-game call-in shows, works through the roster and the schedule, and goes deep on the NFL Draft. Over 1,000 episodes in, it's one of the longest-running Lions podcasts anywhere: no corporate desk, no borrowed takes, just people who have only ever covered this one team. Whether the Lions are rebuilding or contending, we're on it — win, lose, or heartbreak. One Pride.","last_synced_at":"2026-07-29T04:20:00.798524+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-detroit-lions-podcast-1064987"},"episode":{"title":"Daily DLP: Setting up the Lions' kick return battle Detroit Lions Podcast","slug":"daily-dlp-setting-up-the-lions-kick-return-battle-detroit-lions-podcast","published_at":"2026-07-20T19:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-detroit-lions-podcast-1064987/daily-dlp-setting-up-the-lions-kick-return-battle-detroit-lions-podcast","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-detroit-lions-podcast-1064987","url":"https://traffic.megaphone.fm/TTEOS5869796285.mp3","audio_url":"https://traffic.megaphone.fm/TTEOS5869796285.mp3","summary":"Tom Kennedy and Jacob Saylors are the returning Detroit Lions kick returners right now, with Khalil Dorsey and Greg Dortch pushing hard to take the job. Special teams coordinator Dave Fipp values ball security and net field position, and Kennedy checks those boxes. So does Saylors, but not with a lot of dynamic ablity. With today’s kickoff rules, reliability beats boom-or-bust. Who leads the Detroit Lions kick return battle? Tom Kennedy leads because he is the clean, assignment-sound option, and Khalil Dorsey and Greg Dortch are the most credible challengers for explosive plays. Detroit Lions wide receiver Tom Kennedy has been a reliable return man, catching the ball, following blocks, and protecting possession. Cornerback Khalil Dorsey brings top-end speed and prior team return experience. Wide receiver Greg Dortch arrived from Arizona with recent volume and will get real chances. As Jeff Risdon noted on the Detroit Lions Podcast Daily DLP, Fipp will reward the returner who elevates average starting field position without sacrificing ball security. How good were the Lions on kick returns last season? They finished a notch below league average in both return average and resulting field position. The primary kick returner logged 33 returns for 897 yards, an average of 27.2, compared to the NFL average of 28.8. Detroit’s average post-kickoff field position was the 30.2 yard line, short of the 30.8 league average. Detroit Lions wide receiver Tom Kennedy produced 447 yards on 16 returns, a 27.9 average. Another returner finished at 26.8 on six returns. The Lions punt return fixture led the NFL with 32 punt return attempts but managed only 7.5 yards per return, which underscored the need for more juice and cleaner execution. That is not good enough for a unit Fipp expects t…","meta_description":"Tom Kennedy and Jacob Saylors are the returning Detroit Lions kick returners right now, with Khalil Dorsey and Greg Dortch pushing hard to take the job. S…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1353,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-detroit-lions-podcast-1064987/episodes/daily-dlp-setting-up-the-lions-kick-return-battle-detroit-lions-podcast/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-detroit-lions-podcast-1064987/daily-dlp-setting-up-the-lions-kick-return-battle-detroit-lions-podcast.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}