Earlier in the week, I posted the list of kick returners for each team, with a few thoughts. Let me circle back to that, since there have been a few changes and confirmations.
The chart is below. It shows the players that the team lists as its first-time kickoff and punt returners. All 32 teams now have depth charts listed at their website. On m list, if a guy is also going to be on the field for significant offensive action, I’ve got his name in bold. And if the team uses the same guy for both kickoff and punt returns, I’ve got a black dot by that team name.
| LISTED KICK RETURNERS FOR 2018 SEASON | ||
|---|---|---|
| Team | Kickoff Returns | Punt Returns |
| Arizona | T.J. Logan | Christian Kirk |
| • Atlanta | Justin Hardy | Justin Hardy |
| • Baltimore | Janarion Grant | Janarion Grant |
| • Buffalo | Marcus Murphy | Marcus Murphy |
| • Carolina | Damiere Byrd | Damiere Byrd |
| Chicago | Benny Cunningham | Tarik Cohen |
| • Cincinnati | Alex Erickson | Alex Erickson |
| • Cleveland | Jabrill Peppers | Jabrill Peppers |
| Dallas | Deonte Thompson | Tavon Austin |
| Denver | Phillip Lindsay | Isaiah McKenzie |
| Detroit | Ameer Abdullah | Jamal Agnew |
| • Green Bay | Trevor Davis | Trevor Davis |
| • Houston | Tyler Ervin | Tyler Ervin |
| Indianapolis | Nyheim Hines | Chester Rogers |
| Jacksonville | Corey Grant | Jaydon Mickens |
| Kansas City | DeAnthony Thomas | Tyreek Hill |
| LA Chargers | Desmond King | Travis Benjamin |
| • LA Rams | Pharoh Cooper | Pharoh Cooper |
| • Miami | Jakeem Grant | Jakeem Grant |
| • Minnesota | Marcus Sherels | Marcus Sherels |
| New England | Cordarrelle Patterson | Patrick Chung |
| • New Orleans | Tommylee Lewis | Tommylee Lewis |
| NY Giants | Cody Latimer | Kaelin Clay |
| • NY Jets | Andre Roberts | Andre Roberts |
| • Oakland | Dwayne Harris | Dwayne Harris |
| Philadelphia | Shelton Gibson | Darren Sproles |
| • Pittsburgh | Ryan Switzer | Ryan Switzer |
| San Francisco | Matt Breida | Trent Taylor |
| • Seattle | Tyler Lockett | Tyler Lockett |
| Tampa Bay | Jacquizz Rodgers | Adam Humphries |
| • Tennessee | Adoree Jackson | Adoree Jackson |
| Washington | Danny Johnson | Jamison Crowder |
Some notable changes …
Buffalo now showing Marcus Murphy as both kickoff and punt returner. I thought he was about the most surprising player of the preseason – an unheralded afterthought who was worked his way into being a contributed. He sparked that offense, which included a 40-yard punt returner. I expect he’ll come off the bench and get a few change-of-pace touches behind LeSean McCoy.
Earlier I wondered if J.J. Jones might be the league’s best kick returner this year. He had a 72-yard punt return against Seattle and looked really fast on kickoff returns. But the Chargers have updated their depth chart and still aren’t listing him as their guy. They say he’s their backup punt returner and their third-string option on kickoff returns. Either they’re cleverly keeping him under wraps (unlikely) or there are some concerns about ball security or his size (he’s really small).
Kansas City continues to list Tyreek Hill as its punt returner. Certainly he’s awesome in that role – the best, I think. But with how they’re going to use him as a wide receiver, I wonder if they’re worried about wearing him down. First time the Chargers punt on Sunday, will be interesting to see if Hill is back there.
Jakeem Grant normally shouldn’t play much as a wide receiver, but Miami won’t have DeVante Parker this week, so I have put Grant in bold. He made a few plays for them in the passing game late last year.
Shelton Gibson impressed me in the preseason, and he’s the player I am most interested in observing in tonight’s game. I want to gauge whether he might make sense as a fill-in receiver in Week 2. Eagles have plugged him in as their first-string kickoff returner, but based on team-supplied depth chart, it seems like Mike Wallace will play more as a wide receiver tonight. I think Gibson is better than Wallace.
The 49ers drafted Dante Pettis because he scored a whole bunch of touchdowns on punts last year in college. But they have released another depth chart, and he’s still not listed as a first-string returner. They’ve got Matt Breida listed as their kickoff guy and slot receiver Trent Taylor for punts. Breida is also listed as their first-string running back (with Alfred Morris No. 2).
Seahawks have confirmed that at least for now, Tyler Lockett will return both kickoffs and punts. He’s also a starting wide receiver, putting him in contention to finish with more total yards than any other wide receiver in the league.
There are some concerns with health, but Jamison Crowder still listed as first-string punt returner on revised chart posted by Washington.
As a reminder (if you’re totaling up yards) there tends to be about four times as many yards on kickoff returns as punt returns. At least that was the case last year; the kickoff rules have been revised.
Players most likely to be the first to score on a kick return: Damiere Byrd, Pharoh Cooper, Adoree Jackson (pictured).
—Ian Allan