Author: Paula Pasche

Lions’ placekicker Matt Prater was forced into double duty on Sunday in the Lions’ 35-23 win over the Arizona Cardinals. He didn’t miss a beat.

Prater was named the NFC special teams player of the week on Wednesday. He also won the award last season in Weeks 9 and 12.

(Photo courtesy of Detroit Lions)

When punter Kasey Redfern injured his knee early in the game, Prater then became the punter too which was a first in his career. He had four punts averaging 34.8 yards.

He kicked a 58-yard field goal — his only attempt of the day. It was the longest field goal in team history at home and tied for the second longest ever.

Prater joins Jason Hanson as the only Lions kickers since at least 1960 to register a punt and a 50-yard field goal in the same game. Hanson punted three times and made a 53-yard field goal at Tennessee on Sept. 23, 2012.

Prater’s 58-yard field goal was the 36th 50-plus yard field goal of his career. It is also the third he has made from at least 58 yards since joining the Lions in 2014.

Prater was also 2 of 2 on extra points.

Redfern is now out for the season. He had temporarily replaced Sam Martin, one of the NFL’s best punters, who is out with a non-football related injury.

Punter Jeff Locke was signed by the Lions on Tuesday.

The job description for an NFL defensive end does not include the word “fun.”

But that is exactly the word Anthony Zettel used to describe his first start at the position in the Detroit Lions 35-23 win on Sunday.

Zettel was the only one to sack Arizona quarterback Carson Palmer. The pressure created by Zettel and his linemates played a part in the three interceptions thrown by Palmer.

(Photo courtesy of Detroit Lions)

“There was some pressure. It doesn’t mean you get a bevy of sacks all the time, but if you can put enough pressure to create and muddy to pocket a little bit, I think we did muddy the pocket some,’’ coach Jim Caldwell said.

“I feel like I played well but I’ve got a lot to improve on. … I was playing as hard as I could, the rest takes care of itself. I’m looking forward to next week to get back on the field with those guys because that was the funnest I’ve ever had on the field with someone,’’ Zettel said on Monday.

Zettel, a sixth-round pick out of Penn State in 2016, played in 13 games as a rookie with his first career sack in Week 15.

He had a good training camp. And while there was plenty of hand-wringing about the depth on the defensive line, he and the others just kept working. They’ll get more help after the suspensions of Armonty Bryant (three more games) and Khyri Thornton (five more games).

The next test comes on Monday night at the New York Giants.

“I play this game to earn respect from the guys across from me. I just want the guy on the Giants who plays across from me just to know he played me that game and I did get on him,’’ Zettel said. “That’s the only thing I play this game for is that and the love of team and the work and sweat we put in together is the biggest thing that’s why I play this game.’’

The line is also without Kerry Hyder, the 2016 sack leader, who tore his Achilles in the first preseason game. The numbers may be down but the spirits are high.

“We have a really tough group this year. Everybody is on the same page and we really want to play as hard as we can for each other,’’ Zettel said. “That’s when you have a good team when everybody cares about the other guys and they’ll do anything they can to win the game.’’

Zettel said they practiced well all last week, getting after the scout team.

“So we had high expectations coming into this game, I think it all starts with practice and it translated really well over to the game,’’ Zettel said.

While he was certainly pleased with many things about the win, he was thinking about the next challenge.

He liked the energy the defense brought to the field.

The line can’t be judged on just one sack.

“We don’t talk numbers but we want to be the best in the NFL,’’ Zettel said. “I think if any team doesn’t try to be the best they’re cheating themselves.’’

ALLEN PARK >> Jim Caldwell and the Lions got major contributions from a group of youngsters in Sunday’s 35-23 win over the Cardinals.

Eight rookies played a role with first-round pick Jarrad Davis as the only rookie starter. Wide receiver Kenny Golladay, who was in for 62 percent of the offensive plays, finished with four catches for 69 yards including a pair of touchdowns.

“I think it’s kind of been, the last couple years we’ve had quite a few young guys playing for us early. It helps us without question because they make plays for us,’’ Caldwell said. “We just anticipate to we’re going to keep working, keep going.’’

Plus, second- and third-year players like safety Miles Killebrew who ran back an interception for a touchdown and defensive end Anthony Zettel who had the Lions only sack.

Here’s a look from Caldwell’s perspective on what he got from the young crew

1. It only seems like safety Miles Killebrew is on the field for every defensive snap. That’s because the second-year player is always in the middle of the action. “I think everybody knows from the first time he was in a ball game that he’s around the ball a lot. He’s active, he runs and he runs hard all the time. That without question helps him get himself in position. He’s always around the ball. Tipped ball, interception is one we talk about often. Because in the National Football League tipped balls rarely hit the ground. In college they’ll hit the ground more often than in the pros. … His progress has been good because he’s got the right traits — he works at it, he loves it, he has great passion and he has the talent level. … He’s a talented guy who works hard.’’

2. Jarrad Davis was in on 100 percent of the defensive snaps at middle linebacker. At times he looked like a rookie, other times he looked like a first-round pick. Davis had a team-high nine tackles. “He’s a young player, the thing about him is he’s got the kind of attitude you love, he’s going to make some mistakes here and there but he’s going to work to correct those things,’’ Caldwell said.

3. Something about rookie wide receiver Kenny Golladay makes people want to compare him to the best receivers in the NFL. Caldwell won’t be drawn into that game. “He is who he is. He’s a guy I think we’re a long way away from defining what he can do after one ballgame, but I do think he’s got the right traits,’’ Caldwell said. “He’s got speed, he’s got height, he’s got quickness and he’s got toughness. We’ll see in the long run. We’ll see how many big plays he can make for us. He’s certainly capable. I wouldn’t like to compare him to anybody. He is who he is.’’

4. Nickel Quandre Diggs got his third season off to a good start on Sunday with three pass defenses. He rocked as a rookie and had a bit of an off year in 2016. Caldwell credits his improvement to three things: Years of service, familiarity with the scheme and competition. “It’s been a really good competition,’’ Caldwell said. “A lot of guys have stepped up their game and played better. I always felt that (Diggs) was always a play maker, always a gamer, he’s smart. The great thing is he had a very good game, the position he plays is full of challenges.’’

5. Defensive end Alex Barrett, an undrafted rookie, had his standout moments in training camp and the preseason — always on defense. On Sunday, he played 14 snaps on defense and made a surprise play as fullback for one red-zone play. “We’re always looking for opportunities to utilize our roster as much as we possibly can,” Caldwell said. “We’re also searching for body types and trying to see through evaluations throughout the spring and summer who could fill in that role. He did a pretty nice job yesterday. (He’s got the) body type,  he’s mobile, he’s got vision and he doesn’t mind a collision once in awhile.’’