The Detroit Lions are entering a make-or-break season. Failing to make the playoffs again will be unacceptable, and as such, there will be no margin for error, not even before the actual start of the season.
Dan Campbell rewards hard work, and this is the best time to secure not only a roster spot but also playing time. That's why, if Brock Wright wants to stay in Detroit, he must have made the most of the extended opportunities in minicamp.
According to Lions insider Justin Rogers of the Detroit Football Network, Tyler Conklin is dealing with an undisclosed injury. And with Sam LaPorta all but locked in as the starter, Wright had a big chance to make a strong impression:
"Also absent were tight end Tyler Conklin, who exited an OTA practice last week with an unknown injury, and defensive back Avonte Maddox," Rogers wrote.
Brock Wright isn't even a lock to make the Lions' roster
Wright used to be a coaching staff favorite. The team even matched the San Francisco 49ers' offer to keep him in town a couple of years ago, but he hasn't done much to pay back that confidence, not even as a blocker.
Given his lack of impact as a pass-catcher, it wasn't much of a surprise to see the Lions make a run at a veteran like Conklin. They also added undrafted rookie Miles Kitselman, a sturdy blocker, so Wright seemed to be on thin ice.
There were also the financial implications of potentially cutting ties with him. According to OverTheCap, the Lions would save $4.7 million by parting ways with him. They'd absorb $3.9 million in dead money, spread over three years.
As such, he simply can't afford to mess around. The Lions might get tight ends more involved in the offense with offensive coordinator Drew Petzing in town and Sam LaPorta becoming his new version of Trey McBride.
So far, Wright has averaged just 9.2 receiving yards per game, and he's never had more than two touchdowns or 220 receiving yards in a single season. There's simply no way to justify keeping him around if he's not an elite blocker.
That said, availability is the best of abilities, and with LaPorta still nursing an injury and his biggest competitor out with an ailment of his own, a strong effort and minicamp may have been just enough to keep his roster hopes alive for a little longer.
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