Sunday’s game was meaningful for Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond beforehand, and he had a defining moment during it.
Early in the 2017 season, after two games, the New York Jets cut Kalif Raymond. Faced with a career decision after an insignificant run with the New York Giants to finish that season, he stepped up his routine and stuck around in the NFL.
So Sunday’s game was a true full circle moment for Raymond, of course now in his second season as a Detroit Lion. The game became a defining moment for him.
Raymond has had a bigger offensive role than was expected before the season, and he has had another productive season as the Lions’ punt returner. The Jets punted from deep in their own end in the latter half of the first quarter on Sunday. It was not a great punt, to be honest, but Raymond got some nice blocking and he made the Jets pay.
Raymond off to the races!#DETvsNYJ | 📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/8HbJYptojg
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) December 18, 2022
Kalif Raymond gets post game props for stepping up in defining moment vs. Jets
Seemingly always a threat to pop a long return, Raymond is now averaging 14.6 yards per punt return this season (second-best in the league). He was also Detroit’s second-leading receiver on Sunday, with five catches for 53 yards.
When it came time to give out game balls in the postgame locker room, Raymond was an obvious candidate and head coach Dan Campbell delivered.
"He’s our iron man,” Campbell said of Raymond after the game. “He does everything for us. Some of the injuries we’ve had at receiver, he’s been there every day for every game and every practice. He just goes. He is selfless, he’s disciplined, he’s a hard worker, he’s smart, he’s productive, he endears himself to his teammates and he’s versatile.”"
Via Kyle Meinke of MLive, Raymond spoke about his moment in the sun.
"Man, I’m thankful,” Raymond said in that locker room a few minutes later. “I’ve prayed more this year than I ever have, more on my returns than I ever have. I’m just thankful that the Lord blessed me. Like I said, I spent a lot more time praying, and I’ve received so many blessings. I’m thankful. “But I just want to be humble during this time.”"
The Lions have won in different ways over the course of winning six of their last seven games, and in ways they wouldn’t have or seemingly couldn’t have won games even earlier this season. If there’s a symbol of that, it’s Raymond and Sunday’s game against the Jets was his perfect moment to shine against a team that cut him.