From 2021-24, Tyler Conklin was rolling.
Conklin, a former walk-on at Central Michigan who developed into a fifth-round draft pick, recorded 231 receptions (eighth-most among all tight ends) for 2,215 yards (12th) and 10 touchdowns (tied for 23rd) over that four-season stretch. He was rewarded early in that process with a three-year, $20.25 million contract from the New York Jets, furthering his standing as a starting-caliber talent in the NFL.
But that success escaped Conklin last season, when he was the Los Angeles Chargers on a one-year deal. Conklin played his fewest snaps on offense (169) since his rookie campaign with the Minnesota Vikings in 2018, and he was held to 101 yards on seven catches over 13 appearances. He had more touchdowns in 2024 (four) than he did first downs in 2025 (three).
Conklin said “there’s a lot of pieces to that puzzle” for why it didn’t work in Los Angeles. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday for the first time since signing with the Detroit Lions in free agency, Conklin described how, from his perspective, the Chargers desired specialization from their TEs. Tucker Fisk and Will Dissly were used as blockers, and rookie Oronde Gadsden II handled most of the pass-catching responsibilities. Conklin, who prides himself on being an every-down player, couldn’t find a role.
Regardless of the reasons, Conklin said his “motivation is at an all-time high” to prove 2025 was a fluke, and that he still has “a lot of good, meaningful football left in me.”
“I think I can definitely be very productive in the pass game still,” Conklin said. “I think just because one situation didn’t quite work out the way anybody wanted doesn’t mean you just can’t do it anymore.”
A Michigan native who attended Macomb L’Anse Creuse North, Conklin said he underestimated how special it’d feel to return. He wasn’t a Lions fan in his youth — “my dad grew up a Bears fans … and me and my cousin were Packers fans, sadly” — but after watching what Detroit’s run to the NFC Championship in 2023 meant to those from Michigan, “I couldn’t help but just want every Detroit sports team to do good, especially the Lions.”
Conklin is now part of a position group that also includes Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, Zach Horton and Thomas Gordon. LaPorta and his receiving skills are at the top of the depth chart. Wright complements him as a blocker. Ideally, Conklin can provide the Lions with a little bit of both. New offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, who deployed 13 personnel more than anyone during his three years with the Arizona Cardinals, certainly seems to value tight ends.
Petzing and Conklin overlapped for two seasons in Minnesota, when Petzing was the assistant quarterbacks coach (2018) and wide receivers coach (2019). Petzing went on to coach tight ends for two seasons (2020-21) with the Cleveland Browns before the Cardinals hired him as their offensive coordinator in 2023.
Because he was relatively quiet over his first three seasons in the NFL, Conklin doesn’t believe his body has taken the damage you’d expect from a soon-to-be 31-year-old entering his ninth season. To him, from a physical standpoint, “I’m only going to, like, Year 6 right now.” For that reason, he still intends to play for “a handful” of more years before retiring, starting with a season back in his home state.
“At this point, I have no idea what my role would be. But I can tell you just coming here, I plan on being the best version of myself as a football player, as a person, and (I) just want to help this team however I’ve got to help this team,” Conklin said. “Like, in whatever capacity or whatever role that is. All I can do is control how I compete and how I come to this building every day, how I practice every day.
“Whether I’m catching passes, whether I’m blocking more, whether I’m playing special teams, whether I’m just mentoring, whatever that role is, I want to help this team win.”
rsilva@detroitnews.com
@rich_silva18
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Back in Michigan, Lions TE Tyler Conklin’s motivation at ‘all-time high’
Reporting by Richard Silva, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
