DETROIT -- Craig Reynolds, a 2018 Kutztown University alum, returned to the Detroit Lions active roster for their Week 15 game and put on a show at Ford Field, Sunday, rushing for a career-high 112 yards as the Lions upset the NFC West-leading Arizona Cardinals, 30-12. On Monday, Pro Football Focus (PFF) reported Reynolds agreed to an extension with the Lions through 2022.
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Reynolds became the first Kutztown Golden Bear to rush for 100 yards in a National Football League (NFL) game since Bruce Harper put up 118 for the New York Jets against the Buffalo Bills nearly four decades ago on Oct. 3, 1983.
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Elevated from the practice squad as a COVID-19 replacement for the second straight week, Reynolds drew his first career pro start at running back and built upon his 11-carry, 83-yard performance in Week 14 at Denver with new career-highs in rushing yards and carries (26). He surpassed Doug Dennison's 21 rushing attempts for the Dallas Cowboys at Washington in 1976 for the most ever by a Kutztown player in a NFL game.
Reynolds averaged 4.3 yards per carry. He also caught one pass on his only target for five yards and played 65% of the Lions offensive snaps (42 plays).
"Craig, since day one, he's come in and done his job," said Lions head coach Dan Campbell following Sunday's victory. "It's all about intensity, it's all about focus. He's done a great job on scout team and just waited for his opportunity. He's gotten two now, back-to-back, and shown up."
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Doug Kyed of PFF was first to report that the Lions signed Reynolds to their 53-man roster for the remainder of this season as well as 2022.
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A Willow Grove, Pa., native who attended Abington High School, Reynolds entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the Washington Football Team (WFT) in 2019 after a standout collegiate career with the Maroon and Gold in which he produced 5,277 all-purpose yards (second all-time at KU), 2,650 rushing yards (third all-time) and 1,539 receiving yards (12th all-time). He set the program record for career rushing touchdowns with 35, while adding nine receiving TDs and one score on a punt return.
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Reynolds appeared in three regular season games for the WFT in 2019, all on special teams. He had a stint on the Atlanta Falcons practice squad at the start of the 2020 season before latching on with the Jacksonville Jaguars that September. Reynolds played in two regular season games for the Jags, securing his first career NFL carry and reception in Jacksonville's Week 16 game against the Chicago Bears.
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This season started off hectically for Reynolds but has provided him the stability of being within the same organization. Signed by the Lions less than 48 hours prior to their preseason opener against Buffalo, Aug. 13, Reynolds made the most of his opportunity, rushing six times for 49 yards, including a 24-yard fourth-quarter touchdown scamper.
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Reynolds continued to prove his worth over the remainder of the preseason. Though he wasn't included on the team's final 53-man roster at the start of the regular season, Detroit was impressed enough with his body of work to sign him to its practice squad. He spent the entirety of his season there until being called upon last week in Denver.
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PFF's highest-graded running back (86.0) in the preseason, Reynolds is once again turning heads. Over the last two weeks, he's recorded an 88.3 grade, tops among all backs in the league. He's racked up 117 yards after contact during that time, including 92 and nine missed tackles forced against Arizona.
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Detroit (2-11-1) hits the road for games at Atlanta (Dec. 26) and Seattle (Jan. 2) and hosts Green Bay in its 2021 finale Jan. 9.
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