The Detroit Lions suddenly have an enviable dilemma on special teams as they juggle return duties. With a Week 14 showdown against the Dallas Cowboys behind them, Tom Kennedy has solidified himself as the team’s kickoff returner, while Kalif Raymond is expected to reclaim punt-return responsibilities once he’s cleared to play. Special teams coordinator Dave Fipp called it “a great problem to have.”

Fipp couldn’t say enough about Kennedy’s rise.

“He’s the kind of player everyone in our building respects,” Fipp said. “He shows up, works relentlessly, never complains, and never questions the opportunities he does or doesn’t get. He’s always believed he could do more, and when he finally got the chance, he proved it.”

Fipp emphasized that strong blocking played a role in Kennedy’s success, but noted that the best returners elevate everyone around them. “A dynamic returner makes blockers better,” he said. “When the guy with the ball is producing, the whole group feeds off it.”

He also shared an old piece of wisdom from his father, a Vietnam-era pilot. Despite all their training and evaluations, Fipp’s father told him that the military still couldn’t measure a person’s determination or mental toughness — qualities Fipp believes apply just as strongly to football.

Kennedy’s first game filling in for Raymond was historic: he became the first Detroit player since Mel Gray in 1991 to log a kick return of more than 30 yards, a punt return of more than 20 yards, and a 20-plus-yard reception in the same contest. He followed that performance by posting another 21-yard punt return and accumulating 120 kickoff-return yards against Dallas.

When asked whether Kennedy would keep returning kicks after Raymond’s return to practice, Fipp suggested that Kennedy has earned the role on kickoffs, while Raymond — a two-time second-team All-Pro — will almost certainly retake punt-return duties.

Raymond has returned punts for touchdowns in three of the past four seasons, including earlier this year. His average has dipped from 13.8 yards to 7.3 this season due to various injuries, but the team still sees him as elite in that phase of the game.

“Kalif is a huge asset for us,” Fipp said. “He’ll start out handling punts, and Kennedy will stay involved on kickoffs. Getting Raymond back also helps manage his overall workload since he contributes heavily on offense. Even the best players feel the strain of heavy snaps, so splitting responsibilities benefits everyone.”