Tyler Conklin entered Lions training camp with a chance to carve out a real role behind Sam LaPorta, but the first hurdle is already health.
Detroit’s tight end room has a very different feel when LaPorta is unavailable, and the team spent the offseason looking for a reliable No. 2 option to stabilize that spot. Conklin looked like the answer after signing as a free agent, bringing the kind of blocking and receiving ability the Lions wanted next to LaPorta.
That plan hit a speed bump as practices opened in Allen Park. Dan Campbell said Conklin will begin on the PUP list, though the issue is not expected to linger. The Lions are being cautious because Conklin was still dealing with a tender calf from the spring.
"Conklin's going to probably be about two weeks, somewhere in there. He's running.
He got a little calf (injury) back in the spring. We're hopeful.
No setbacks. We're trying to be smart with him, but hopefully get him back as soon as possible so we can get some reps on him."
Those reps matter, but so does simply being on the field. Brock Wright is already there, and he knows the offense. With early camp work available, Wright has a chance to make his case as the second tight end and show Detroit he can handle a larger workload.
Conklin still brings the kind of depth the Lions have been missing opposite LaPorta. Detroit has watched tight end production drop hard when LaPorta has been sidelined, and Conklin’s track record gives the team a steadier option if he gets healthy and settles in.
Tight ends coach Steve Oliver has already liked what he’s seen.
"Conklin's the ultimate pro. Year nine coming in and he wants to be coached.
He wants to get better every day. He's grasped the system really well and the guys in the room have been great (with him).
He's been a great addition. I'm really excited to have him."
For now, though, the biggest issue is whether Conklin can get past the calf problem quickly enough to keep that job within reach. If he can’t, Wright may be the one with the inside track to line up next to LaPorta this fall.
In Other News...
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For Detroit, that matters because Petzings track record in Arizona is what got him this kind of attention in the first place. His Cardinals offenses were uneven over three seasons, but the arrow pointed up in 2024, when the unit finished 12th in scoring and showed enough efficiency to put Petzing back on the radar in a serious way. It also puts him in familiar company within the division, with former Lions OC Ben Johnson landing near the top of the list and Packers coach Matt LaFleur right behind him. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Rookie May Already Be Changing The Right Tackle Battle
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Miller said he is already getting more comfortable with the playbook, and that the game is starting to slow down for him as he keeps learning. For a team that invested heavily up front and wants a cleaner year protecting the quarterback and opening running lanes, the early signs at right tackle are worth watching closely, even if camp is only just getting started. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Risk Letting Top Edge Help Slip Away Again
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Detroit has been weighing its options carefully, and that is where the tension comes in. The Lions may be comfortable rolling with DJ Wonnum and rookie Derrick Moore on the outside if the right veteran never materializes, but the longer a player like Clowney remains available, the more it invites another familiar question about whether the team will add the kind of edge help that can change a defense or let another opportunity pass by. [Read more 🡒]