ALLEN PARK – Khalil Dorsey is one of several Detroit Lions players looking to get their career trending back upward this season after a significant setback.
The 27-year-old cornerback saw his 2024 campaign cut short during a Week 15 loss to the Buffalo Bills, where he sustained a season-ending ankle injury.
Dorsey wasn’t able to participate in any of the Lions’ offseason programs. But during the week of their preseason finale against the Houston Texans, the team activated him from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. His practice work was limited, as he spent most of that time with staffers preparing for a full return to the field.
“I just told them that I need my speed back before I could do anything else — before I could, you know what I’m saying, start working those gunner reps or whatever,” Dorsey told MLive. “I was like, I need just to get my straight-line speed back. So that was something that was a big emphasis this past offseason.”
Dorsey’s preparation to return this season and regain that speed has required extensive running. Not necessarily to build conditioning, but to sharpen his short-area bursts.
Recognized as one of Detroit’s more versatile players, he’s best known for his special teams skills, but the Lions also need him healthy for what he brings to their secondary depth.
Last week, Lions special teams coordinator Dave Fipp referred to Dorsey as one of the “great gunners in the game of football right now,” a sentiment that coach Dan Campbell shares.
That skill didn’t happen overnight. Dorsey said he learned the nuances of playing gunner early in his career with the help of veterans.
“Oh my goodness, there are a lot of people,” Dorsey said. “Player-wise, I would say Anthony Levine, Jordan Richards, and Chris Moore. Those three helped me a lot, especially just having that mentality. Chris Moore really helped me at the gunner position as a rookie.”
After hearing the praise, Dorsey acknowledged what it meant to him heading into the new season.
“It gives me confidence,” he said. “Last year I did some good things, but this is a new year, so I got to prove it again, kind of a thing. Starting from scratch.
“… I’m just appreciative of every moment, every opportunity that they give me, regardless if it’s special teams or on defense.”
In 27 games with the Lions, Dorsey has recorded three passes defensed and 25 tackles.
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