Lions Add UDFA Receiver After Kendrick Law Goes Down
The Detroit Lions signed undrafted rookie wide receiver Kyre Duplessis to the active roster on Thursday. This move comes after Coach Dan Campbell announced that rookie receiver Kendrick Law tore his ACL during OTAs in the second week of non-contact practices.
Because of course he did. Just when you think we’re past the injury curse that has haunted this franchise, the football gods remind us that hope is a dangerous thing in Detroit.
The Duplessis File
Duplessis spent four seasons at Coastal Carolina before transferring to Delaware for 2025. At Coastal Carolina, he was barely a blip on the radar with just 23 receptions for 348 yards and one touchdown across 39 games. But something clicked at Delaware.
In 2025, Duplessis exploded for 60 catches, 824 yards, and five touchdowns. He also added 19 rushing yards on three attempts and contributed on special teams with three punt returns for 73 yards (24.3 yards per return), including a touchdown, plus two kick returns for 33 yards (16.5 yards on average).
At 5-foot-10, 193 pounds with 4.6 speed, Duplessis projects as a slot receiver in the NFL. While he played mostly outside at Delaware, his size and skill set scream inside work at the next level. His game was built around yards after the catch through quick slants, sideline shots, and creative usage out of the backfield.
What He Brings to Allen Park
The scouting report on Duplessis suggests he may struggle to create separation at the NFL level. But he has positive instincts, contact balance, and body control with the ball in his hands. Special teams might be his clearest path to seeing the field, and given what happened to Law, that avenue just became more important.
He joins a receiver room that has solidified starters in Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Isaac TeSlaa. The depth chart also includes Greg Dortch, Dominic Lovett, Tom Kennedy, Jackson Meeks, Malik Cunningham, and Cedrick Wilson.
Look, nobody expects Duplessis to waltz into Ford Field and become the next great Lions receiver. But Brad Holmes has shown a knack for finding value in unexpected places, and special teams production is never something to dismiss. Sometimes the best moves are the ones nobody sees coming.
Is signing a UDFA receiver after losing a draft pick to injury just classic Lions luck or smart roster management? Drop your take below.
Kyre going from barely doing anything at Coastal to putting up numbers like that at Delaware is exactly the kind of guy Brad Holmes finds. If nothing else, special teams help is never wasted and who knows, maybe the slot usage really does translate up. I’m not saying he’s a star but I like the vibe of this move.
Look, I want to believe in Holmes too but a 5-10 slot guy with separation issues is not exactly getting me hyped after we just lost a pick to injury. I get the special teams angle but let’s not pretend this is anything more than a band aid.
You know back in the day we would’ve just thrown whoever was left in and hoped for the best. The fact that we’re actually being thoughtful about this stuff and looking at tape on guys like Duplessis shows how different things are now. Campbell and Holmes actually care about getting it right, not just filling roster spots.
The injuries are brutal but at least we’re not sitting here watching some clown of a GM panic hire. This is calculated and it shows real scouting work. Duplessis might not be anything but the process feels smart.