The Detroit Lions have suffered a significant injury blow with kicker Michael Badgley set to miss the entire 2023 season after tearing his hamstring.
The Detroit Lions' hopes of taking the next step in their rebuilding process have been dealt a setback with the news that kicker Michael Badgley will miss the entire 2023 season with a torn hamstring.
The injury occurred during preparation for practice on Thursday, according to head coach Dan Campbell, who expressed his disappointment for Badgley. "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 is expected to undergo surgery soon to repair the injury. His absence will leave a significant void in the Lions' special teams unit, especially after his impressive performance in the latter stages of the 2022 season and the playoffs.
Signed to the Lions' practice squad prior to the 2022 season, Badgley was elevated in December and eventually signed to the active roster for the final two games of the regular season. Over four regular-season games, he was a perfect 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 proved to be the difference in Detroit's 24-23 victory. The Lions re-signed Badgley in February, recognizing his potential and value to the team.
Prior to his stint with Detroit, Badgley had bounced around the league in his six professional seasons, making stops with nine different teams. After serving as the Lions' kicker for much of the 2022 season, he was released ahead of training camp last year.
Despite his injury setback, Badgley has a strong track record. He has made 98 of his 119 field-goal attempts in his career, with his 82.4% FG percentage ranking 23rd among active kickers.
With Badgley sidelined, Jake Bates remains the only other kicker on the Lions' roster. Bates joined the team after a successful season with the Michigan Panthers in the 2023 UFL, where he made 17 of 22 field goals.
The Lions will hope that Bates can step up in Badgley's absence and provide reliable kicking during the upcoming season. However, Badgley's injury is a significant blow to a Lions team looking to make a statement in 2023.
