During a three-week stretch last fall, the Detroit Lions’ top three tight ends were out with injuries, exposing a lack of depth at a vital offensive position.
The organization took the first step toward addressing the problem Friday, March 13, by adding ninth-year veteran Tyler Conklin to the fold. The Chesterfield native and former Central Michigan player agreed to a one-year deal, according to his agent, Michael McCartney. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Last season, Conklin appeared in 13 games with Jim Harbaugh’s Los Angeles Chargers, hauling in seven passes and producing 101 receiving yards. Throughout his career, which has featured stints with the Minnesota Vikings and New York Jets, he has primarily been deployed at an inline position. But he has occasionally flexed out in the slot, earning a reputation as a solid pass-catcher. Over eight seasons, Conklin has been targeted 386 times, with 270 receptions for 2,675 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Conklin will join a position group led by Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright. LaPorta was the Lions’ second-leading receiver until he suffered a herniated disc in his back in early November and missed the remainder of the season. Wright, who was primarily used as an extra blocker, was tasked with filling the void left by LaPorta. But not long after LaPorta was sidelined, Wright hurt his trachea and was shelved for the final six games. With the team’s third tight end, Shane Zylstra, still recovering from an ankle injury he suffered in early September, the Lions plugged the holes at the position with multiple mid-season acquisitions, including Ross Dwelley, Anthony Firkser and Giovanni Ricci. Dwelley was eventually released in December. Firkser, Zylstra and Ricci, meanwhile, became free agents after their contracts expired.
Conklin has the potential to deliver a bigger impact than each of those players. He also has familiarity with new Lions offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, who was a Vikings assistant during Conklin’s first two seasons in Minnesota. Since becoming a play-caller in 2023, Petzing has developed a reputation for highlighting tight ends.
“I think there’s certainly value in the position because of the versatility in what they can do,” Petzing said last month. “It’s one of the few positions that is heavily involved in both phases, the run and pass. … Having those guys that can do dynamic things creates indecision for the defense.”
Conklin was brought in, it seems, to do just that and raise the floor at tight end.
Contact Rainer Sabin at rsabin@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tyler Conklin, Michigan native and ex-CMU TE, joining Detroit Lions
Reporting by Rainer Sabin, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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