Although tight end wasn’t viewed as a top priority for the Detroit Lions entering the offseason, it was evident that general manager Brad Holmes needed to bolster their depth at the position. When tight end Sam LaPorta went down with a back injury, the unit struggled in his absence, combining for an atrocious 18 receptions for 117 yards to close out the season.
To address the need, the Lions signed eight-year veteran tight end Tyler Conklin.
Not only does Conklin strengthen the team’s TE depth, but it also gives quarterback Jared Goff another reliable receiving option.
While Conklin is projected to be the backup behind LaPorta, his signing has flown under the radar this offseason; however, this should change once the season begins.
Tyler Conklin Will Be an Impactful Lions Contributor in 2026
There are several reasons the Conklin signing hasn’t generated much hype among Lions fans. For starters, Conklin signed a one-year, $1.3 million contract with Detroit. A signing of this level isn’t going to create a frenzy among fans, as it’s often viewed as a low-risk depth addition that won’t make a major impact.
Additionally, Conklin is coming off a disappointing season. Conklin, 30, wasn’t much of a factor in his lone season with the Los Angeles Chargers, logging seven receptions for 101 yards across 13 games. His poor performance ultimately led to him being a healthy scratch in four of their final five games.
Despite his minimal production, Conklin is not entirely at fault for his underwhelming season. While his stats could raise concerns over potential regression, that isn’t the case with Conklin.
Instead, the blame should be on the Chargers’ offense, which was plagued by inconsistency due to injuries sustained to the offensive line and quarterback Justin Herbert. Not only that, but Conklin wasn’t given much of an opportunity, appearing in just 169 offensive snaps. He was also competing for opportunities against fellow TEs Oronde Gadsden II and Will Dissly, who saw 69 and 16 targets, respectively.
Before his time with the Chargers, Conklin established himself as a reliable receiving threat with the Minnesota Vikings and the New York Jets. During this stretch, Conklin was a dependable target, recording 231 receptions for 2,215 yards and 10 touchdowns across 67 games.
Lions Can Help Conklin Get Back on Track
In Detroit, Conklin will likely serve as the primary backup while also carving out a meaningful role in new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing’s scheme. When Petzing was the playcaller for the Arizona Cardinals, he used multiple tight ends, leaning heavily on both 12- and 13-personnel packages.
Along with his run-heavy approach, Petzing also calls a heavy dosage of play action, an area where Goff has excelled throughout his career. Given Petzing’s system, it shouldn’t be a surprise that the Lions targeted Conklin, considering the two were together on the Vikings for two seasons.
While Conklin won’t be one of the top receiving options for the Lions this upcoming season, he should be a steady contributor. Considering that the Lions have been a pass-happy offense in the Dan Campbell era, Conklin should be a reliable target who will get the majority of his work in the short area and the red zone.
Despite his signing not garnering much attention, Conklin will have an important role to play this season. With LaPorta returning from injury, the 30-year-old pass-catcher gives the Lions a quality insurance piece they haven’t had in some time. His presence could also motivate Brock Wright and Zach Horton to step up.
Even though he’s not nearly as talented as LaPorta, Conklin is good enough to provide the Lions' TE room with a much-needed boost. It likely won't take long for him to go from being an under-the-radar signing to someone whom Detroit fans can't help but root for.
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