Former MSU kicker Dave Rayner was signed by the NFL’s Detroit Lions on Tuesday.
Rayner will assume the kicking duties for the Lions while longtime kicker Jason Hanson is out with an injury. Hanson injured the medial collateral ligament in his right knee when New York Jets Trevor Pryce ran into Hanson’s leg on a field-goal attempt in the third quarter of Sunday’s 23-20 overtime loss to the Jets.
Rayner was a member of the Spartans from 2001-04. He went 62-for-90 on field-goal attempts and 148-for-151 in extra points, which currently ranks 2nd all-time in MSU history behind Brett Swenson.
Rayner spent the 2008 preseason with the Lions and last kicked in the regular season that year with the Cincinnati Bengals, making his only attempt from 26 yards.
During his professional career, Rayner has made 42 of 59 kicks, with a long of 54 yards. He also played for the Indianapolis Colts, Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers.
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