Tim Twentyman
For the last three seasons, veteran wide receiverGreg Dortchwas a valuable component of Drew Petzing's offense in Arizona and a key returner on special teams for the Cardinals.
Petzing is now the offensive coordinator in Detroit, and Dortch said Tuesday that played a big factor in him signing a free-agent deal with the Lions.
"It was a big reason. Obviously just the comfort factor. The trust and the success that I've had with him being my OC the three years together," Dortch said. "Drew is very smart and knows exactly how to get people the ball."
Dortch (5-7, 180) played mostly on the outside in his first season in Petzing's offense in Arizona in 2023 and transitioned more to playing in the slot the last two seasons. He has the versatility to play multiple receiver spots.
He caught 120 passes with eight touchdowns the last three seasons in Arizona and adds depth to Detroit's receiver room led byAmon-Ra St. BrownandJameson Williams. Dortch is an accomplished returner and could be a great fit to take over Kalif Raymond's role on offense and special teams after Raymond signed with Chicago in free agency.
"Kalif Raymond taking a job somewhere else I seen the spot was vacant," Dortch said.
Dortch has returned 99 career punts with an 8.9-yard average and ranked in the Top 10 in the NFL in punt return average last year with a career-high 11.6-yard average. He's also returned 75 kickoffs in his NFL career and averaged 26.2 yards per kickoff return last year in Arizona.
Dortch has played in 68 career games with 17 starts and has 191 career receptions for 1,310 yards and 10 touchdowns.
An undrafted free agent out of Wake Forest in 2019, Dortch bounced around to a number of teams his first couple seasons in the NFL before finding his fit and his place in Arizona the last five seasons and proving himself as a valuable receiver and return man.
"Detroit fits who I am as a man," Dortch said. "The grit, the toughness, the getting it out of the mud. That's just me. That's my whole story and when I got a call from Detroit that they were interested, it was no better fit."
