In a gut punch for Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions’ high-powered offense, one wide receiver is not able to practice just days before Green Bay comes to town.
Jared Goff’s Seamless Season Now Tested by Kalif Raymond’s Absence
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) makes a pass against Green Bay Packers during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. © Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Detroit Lions quarterback Goff (16) makes a pass against Green Bay Packers during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. © Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Detroit Lions’ quest for NFC North supremacy hit a snag on Monday, as versatile wide receiver and return specialist Kalif Raymond was listed as a non-participant in practice due to an ankle injury suffered late in Sunday’s overtime victory over the New York Giants.
For quarterback Jared Goff, who’s been the architect of Detroit’s explosive offense all season, this development spells trouble. Raymond’s multi-faceted role—slot receiver, jet sweep threat, and elite punt returner—has been a hidden cog in Jared Goff‘s precision passing attack, and his uncertain status for Thursday’s high-stakes Thanksgiving clash with the Green Bay Packers could force Jared Goff to recalibrate on the fly.
Goff’s Offensive Symphony Disrupted by Raymond’s Ankle Woe
Jared Goff entered Week 12 riding a hot streak, extending his franchise-record 17-game touchdown pass streak with a gritty 279-yard, two-score performance in the 34-27 win over New York. But the price was steep: Raymond, who snagged both of his targets for 37 yards before exiting, crumpled late in the third quarter after a contested catch. He remained on the turf briefly before being ruled questionable, then out for the night. “Kalif’s one of those guys who does the dirty work that makes Jared Goff‘s job easier,” Lions head coach Dan Campbell said postgame, per Detroit Free Press reports. “Losing him? That’s a weapon we can’t just plug and play.”
Monday’s estimated injury report confirmed the setback, listing Raymond as a DNP for the ankle issue. RotoWire’s analysis echoed the concern: “Raymond suffered an ankle injury during Sunday’s game against the Giants… deemed questionable to return.” With the short week looming, Jared Goff‘s clean pockets—bolstered by Raymond’s motion that creates mismatches—could vanish if defenses load up the box. Detroit’s offense, No. 2 in scoring at 29.8 points per game, relies on Raymond’s 22 receptions for 312 yards and two TDs this season, plus his league-leading punt return prowess (10.2 yards average).
Dan Campbell’s Cautious Optimism Amid Jared Goff’s Adaptation Challenge
Nov 23, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond (11) catches a punt in the third quarter against the New York Giants at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images
Nov 23, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond (11) catches a punt in the third quarter against the New York Giants at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images
Campbell, ever the motivator, tempered expectations during his Monday presser. “We’ll monitor Kalif closely this week—short turnaround means no risks,” he told reporters, according to USA Today Lions Wire. “He’s got that gear nobody else has. He’s the spark that gets us—and Jared Goff—going. Hope he’s back quick; we need him.” The coach’s words underscore Raymond’s intangibles: his pre-snap motion has generated 14 explosive plays for Jared Goff in recent wins, per Next Gen Stats. Without it, Jared Goff might lean heavier on Amon-Ra St. Brown (68 catches, 892 yards) and Jameson Williams, but the Packers’ top-10 secondary could exploit the shift.
Jared Goff himself addressed the ripple effects after the Giants game, telling the Detroit News, “Kalif’s got that suddenness that opens everything up for me. He’s not just a receiver—he’s a decoy, a return guy flipping field position. Losing him hurts, especially Thursday.” Goff’s poise has been Detroit’s superpower, but this tests it. The Lions sit at 8-4, clinging to a one-game division lead, and a hobbled offense against Green Bay’s stingy D (allowing 18.2 points per game) isn’t the narrative Jared Goff wants.
Rookie Replacements and Jared Goff’s Bounce-Back Blueprint
Enter the backups: Third-round rookie Isaac TeSlaa (hand) could see expanded reps, per CBS Sports. “If Raymond sits, TeSlaa’s our guy behind St. Brown and Williams,” Campbell noted. TeSlaa has flashed with four catches for 65 yards and two scores, but his inexperience in returns (and lack of Raymond’s speed) means Jared Goff starts drives from deeper averages. FOX Sports highlighted Raymond’s dual-threat value: “Raymond provides the Lions with another field-stretcher… and could be in line for more kick return opportunities.”
History favors Goff in adversity. After a brutal 14-of-37 clunker in Week 11’s 16-9 loss to Philadelphia—where cramps sidelined Raymond briefly—Jared Goff rebounded masterfully. “He’s our steady hand,” Campbell praised. But experts like RotoWire’s Jeff Edgerton warn: “Raymond’s exit mid-game exposed depth issues; Jared Goff‘s targets shrink without his underneath reliability.”
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