Lions K Michaell Badgley suffered a torn hamstring during preparation for Thursday's practice, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The team announced Friday morning that he's going on IR and will miss the entire season.
Jeff Risdon of Lions Wire: "Badgley's departure leaves UFL standout Jake Bates as the only kicker in camp, though [HC Dan] Campbell added that the team has already worked out another kicker and is looking to add competition for Bates."
Badgley wasn't a lock to emerge from camp as Detroit's kicker.
He spent just the final four regular-season games and playoffs as their guy last year after the Lions dumped K Riley Patterson.
Badgley did go 7-for-7 on FG attempts over that span but returned on a small, one-year deal.
The situation looks good for whomever wins the kicking job. The Lions ranked fifth in scoring each of the past two years.
If the 29-year-old (come July 28) Badgley sits on any of your dynasty rosters, dump him.
Bates ranked just eighth in the UFL this year with a 77% FG conversion rate but did hit a 64-yarder.
He has yet to kick in an NFL and doesn't seem like a great bet to hit the regular season as Detroit's kicker.
The injury obviously takes Badgley out of the 2024 picture, but we'll have to see who emerges as the favorite to replace him before delivering a true ranking for "Lions kicker."
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