Farmingdale's Tom Kennedy back in Lions camp, hoping to make roster as 'reliable' receiver
Detroit Lions wide receiver Tom Kennedy (85) catches a pass during an NFL football practice in Allen Park, Mich., Monday, July 24, 2023. Credit: AP/Paul Sancya
During the Giants’ first of two joint practice sessions with the Lions on Monday, Tom Kennedy had a reason to be nostalgic: He was back home.
The Detroit wide receiver was a football and lacrosse standout at Farmingdale High School and played both sports at Bryant University in Rhode Island. He first signed with Detroit as a free agent in 2019.
“It’s great to have that hometown support,” Kennedy, 28, said after practice at Giants camp in New Jersey. “I just left for camp a couple weeks ago, so it hasn’t been too long since the last time I was here. But during the season, you’re gone for months at a time. Being able to see your people, even if it’s just for 30 or 40 minutes after a game, it’s still awesome.”
Kennedy has played in 20 games for the Lions over three seasons, catching 14 passes for 195 yards. He was waived from the roster after suffering an upper-body injury during training camp before the 2023 season but re-signed that November.
Now he is fighting for a spot on Detroit’s 53-man roster again.
“You never know when your number is going to be called,” coach Dan Campbell said in December 2022. “[Kennedy] can play multiple roles for us. Mentally and physically, he can do some things.”
During his time at Bryant, Kennedy had 1,298 career receiving yards and 10 touchdown catches plus 94 rushing yards with three TDs. He also threw a 6-yard TD pass on his only attempt.
On the Bulldogs’ lacrosse field, the midfielder had 72 goals and 45 assists in 67 games.
Kennedy even played in six games for the MLL Boston Cannons in 2018, getting one assist and three ground balls before refocusing on football.
“If we had a Saturday game, we’d go wherever the game is on Friday night, shoot around Saturday morning, play that night and be back home by Sunday; see you next week,” Kennedy said. “It was very different from football.”
In the 2022 preseason opener against Atlanta, he caught eight passes for 104 yards. A week later, he had two touchdown receptions against Indianapolis.
Kennedy will get another chance to prove himself Thursday night against the Giants.
“He’s just reliable,” Campbell said. “That’s all he is, reliable.”
