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Report Card: Grading the Detroit Lions at the quarter mark

By Jeremy Friedrichs

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 22: Jamal Agnew #39 of the Detroit Lions celebrates his 100 yard kick off return for a touchdown with teammates Dee Virgin #30,Nick Bawden #46,C.J. Moore #49,Miles Killebrew #35,Logan Thomas #82 and Mike Ford #38 in the first quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on September 22, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 22: Jamal Agnew #39 of the Detroit Lions celebrates his 100 yard kick off return for a touchdown with teammates Dee Virgin #30,Nick Bawden #46,C.J. Moore #49,Miles Killebrew #35,Logan Thomas #82 and Mike Ford #38 in the first quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on September 22, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Special Teams

It’s been a strange, up and down experience for the Lions’ Special Teams unit thus far. Muffed punts, blocked punts and field goals, field-spanning return touchdowns, forced turnovers and oh yeah, penalties.

Returner Jamal Agnew’s arrow is pointing firmly up after a rough first two games. His 100-yard kickoff return to the house against the Eagles breathed life into a beleaguered unit and may have even saved him his job in that role after ball security issues dogged him over the first two games. Agnew also forced a fumble against the Chiefs on a return.

Penalties were a major issue over the first two weeks, with a stunning nine total infractions accumulated by the return and coverage units. Give special teams coordinator John Bonamego credit for righting the ship to an extent, as the Lions have committed only one such gaffe over the past two weeks.

The Lions have a handful of solid mainstays on special teams, including linebacker Miles Killebrew, running back J.D. McKissic, tight end Logan Thomas, and safety C.J. Moore. McKissic laid a key block on Agnew’s touchdown return.

The kicking units remain solid, with punter Sam Martin dropping eight punts inside the opposing 20-yard line and kicker Matt Prater hitting seven of his nine field goals. Each has had an attempt blocked, with Martin’s mishap contributing to the Cardinals’ Week 1 comeback and Prater’s error almost costing the Lions a win in Philadelphia. Considering the sorry state of placekicking around the NFL, consider the Lions lucky in this area.

Grade: C

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