Detroit Lions kicker Michael Badgley will miss the entire 2024 season due to a leg injury sustained at practice on Thursday.
According to Tim Twentyman of the team’s official website, the Lions will place Badgley on injured reserve after he suffered a “severe” injury during warmups before practice. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Badgley was diagnosed with a torn hamstring.
Badgley was set to enter his second full season with the Lions, having signed a one-year contract to return to the team in February. The 28-year-old had a turbulent journey in the NFL before landing in Detroit, initially signing with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2018 but being waived before the regular season.
He then joined the Los Angeles Chargers in October 2018, where he went 15-of-16 on field-goal attempts and 27-of-28 on extra points during his rookie season. A groin injury sidelined him for the first eight weeks of the 2019 season, but he played all 16 games for the Chargers in 2020. In September 2021, Badgley signed with the Tennessee Titans as a free agent.
After playing one game with the Titans, Badgley was waived and joined the Colts’ practice squad shortly thereafter. He had a brief stint with the Chicago Bears in 2022, appearing in one game before being released. The Lions signed Badgley to their practice squad before Week 9, and he finished the season as their primary kicker. He had brief periods with the Washington Commanders and Tennessee Titans in the summer of 2023 but was released by both teams before the regular season.
Badgley returned to Detroit on the practice squad last September and was elevated to the main roster before Week 15 after Riley Patterson missed extra points in two of the previous three games. In seven games between the end of the regular season and the playoffs, Badgley went 7-of-7 on field goals and 24-of-26 on extra points.
The Lions signed Jake Bates to a two-year contract in June after he played for the Michigan Panthers in the UFL during the spring. The 24-year-old went 17-of-22 on field-goal attempts and made a game-winning 64-yarder in Week 1 against the St. Louis Battlehawks.
