The Detroit Lions don't have many big injury cases to start 2026, but the most interesting in terms of roster implications has been at running back.
Without Isaiah Pacheco for the first four weeks of the season, that's created an opportunity for others to tote the rock behind Jahmyr Gibbs. Jacob Saylors and Sione Vaki are the two players who will compete for the snaps, and their work on special teams will be important as well.
In the case of Vaki, his role could have been seen to be a return man. Before the season opener, however, Lions special teams coordinator Dave Fipp revealed that Vaki would not be in the competition to return punts, and Tom Kennedy would be handling that duty.
#Lions ST coordinator Dave Fipp confirms Tom Kennedy will be returning punts this season.
— Nolan Bianchi (@nolanbianchi) September 10, 2026
When asked to expand further on Kennedy, Fipp said that he's the type of player who always finds a way to make something happen no matter what role he is in. Specifically, he likes his ability to spark the team with a big play, which is a big reason he landed the job.
"I'm excited for him. Every time we put him back there, he's done something with the ball in his hands, made a little play here or there. Kind of created a spark of energy. He did that in the preseason again. At the end of the day, it's going to be a collective effort of all 11 guys out on the field. Not just one guy, not just him certainly. I'm excited to watch that group play."
While Kennedy has plenty of experience in such a role, Vaki does not. It's a big reason he is getting the first look to replace Kalif Raymond as a returner. Greg Dortch was signed and then released this offseason, and Kennedy was kept around precisely for his experience in the returner and receiver role.
Vaki may be losing his grip on a roster spot when Pacheco returns
if the Lions don't trust Vaki to return punts and he isn't seen as effective enough to not be part of a running back tandem with Saylors, it's tough to say what his ceiling is on Detroit's roster. Offensively, he has never found his footing as hoped.
Vaki also played safety while in college at Utah, but the Lions haven't used him in that role, so it's tough to see him competing for a spot in a defensive backfield that seems fairly set even though there are injuries at that position. With all this in mind, it's tough to say where exactly Vaki fits on the roster at this point.
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If Vaki doesn't distinguish himself as a running back with extra carries behind Gibbs, it might not be a stretch to see him on the outside looking in for roster inclusion moving forward. Assuming Pacheco is completely healthy when he returns and ready for a bigger workload, there simply might not be a reason to keep another running back.
While Kennedy also offers immense value as a receiver, it's tough to see where Vaki's roster spot lies otherwise since he has become a player without a regular position. He'll need to step up and make a big impact while Pacheco is out, or his path to sticking around might only be getting more narrow.
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