The Lions' special teams unit was tested early this season when punter Kasey Redfern, filling in for the injured Sam Martin (Non-Football Injury list), went down early with a knee injury in the team's Week 1 matchup, and did not return.
Kicker Matt Prater stepped up, adding punting and kickoff duties to his resume. Prater also drilled a 58-yard field goal with a fill-in holder, backup quarterback Jake Rudock, earning him NFC special teams player of the week honors.
Redfern's knee injury was season-ending, and while Prater filled in admirably, the Lions needed to bring in a punter.