A season-ending injury to Michael Badgley has left Jake Bates as the only kicker on the Detroit Lions' roster right now. That is sure to change at some point soon, and they had four kickers in for a workout immediately after the Badgley injury news. None have been signed as of Tuesday morning, which says a lot about the group.
On Monday evening, the Jacksonville Jaguars waived kicker Riley Patterson. That immediately got attention in regard to the Lions, given their looming move to sign a second kicker which hasn't yet come.
Patterson won the Lions' kicking job over Badgley in camp a year ago. He kicked in 13 games last season, going 15-for-17 on field goals and 35-for-37 on extra points before being released in favor of Badgley, who had been brought back on the practice squad.
In 2021, Patterson kicked in seven games for the Lions (13-for-14 on field goals, 16-for-16 on extra points). He signed with the Jaguars in 2022, highlighted by a game-winning field goal to complete an epic playoff comeback over the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Lions re-acquired Patterson from the Jaguars in a May 2023 trade. After being let go by the Lions he finished last season with the Cleveland Browns, kicking in two games for them.
Will the Lions look to add Riley Patterson, again?
Patterson is subject to the waiver process, and the Lions could put in a claim for him. But since waiver priority is ranked by team record from the previous season right now, the Lions are low in that pecking order. It's fair to assume at least one team above them would put in a claim on Patterson.
But if Patterson clears waivers, he'll be a free agent. He's a known quantity to the Lions, more than any other team. The leg of the ongoing kicker carousel that included him and Badgley last year proves the Lions might lean toward who they know as they look to add a kicker now.
If Patterson were to end up back for a third stint with the Lions, the big question would be if he's a legit threat to beat out Bates. That feels unlikely, but if we've learned anything with the kicker situation for the Lions in recent years it's to not have any firm expectations for what will happen.