Detroit Lions Lose Kicker Michael Badgley for Season to Torn Hamstring

**SAPO:** Detroit Lions kicker Michael Badgley has suffered a torn hamstring that will sideline him for the 2024 season, a major blow to the team's special teams unit.

The Detroit Lions have been dealt a significant blow to their special teams unit with the news that kicker Michael Badgley will miss the entire 2024 season due to a torn hamstring.

Head coach Dan Campbell announced the injury on Friday, describing it as a "significant injury" that occurred while Badgley was preparing for practice on Thursday. Campbell declined to provide further details about the injury, but ESPN later reported that it was a torn hamstring.

"Feel awful, feel bad," Campbell said. "He worked his tail off to get ready for this season. He was having a good spring. He was ready for camp. So, anyway, it's tough."

Badgley will undergo surgery soon to repair the injury, Campbell added.

The Lions signed Badgley to their practice squad ahead of the 2023 season after kicker Riley Patterson struggled during the year. Badgley was elevated in December and eventually signed to the active roster before the final two games of the regular season.

He made a significant impact in those four games, going 4-for-4 on field-goal attempts and 3-for-3 in the postseason. His 54-yard field goal against the Los Angeles Rams in the wild-card round of the playoffs proved to be the difference in Detroit's 24-23 victory.

The Lions re-signed Badgley in February, but his season-ending injury now leaves them with just one kicker on their roster, Jake Bates. Bates signed with the Lions after making 17 of 22 field goals for the Michigan Panthers in the 2024 UFL season.

Badgley's absence is a major loss for the Lions, who were counting on him to continue his strong performance from last season. He has made 98 of his 119 field-goal attempts in his career, with an 82.4% FG percentage that ranks 23rd among active kickers.

The Lions will now need to find a reliable kicker to fill Badgley's shoes, either through a trade or free agency. With the season opener just over two months away, time is of the essence to find a suitable replacement.