Drew Petzing’s arrival as the Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator has already sparked the kind of questions that come with a scheme shift. Petzing leaned on two- and three-tight end looks during his time with the Arizona Cardinals, and that naturally put the Lions’ tight end room under the microscope.
That’s where Tyler Conklin enters the picture. Detroit brought him in during free agency, and on paper the move made sense.
The Lions needed depth, and Conklin brought a track record that stood out even after a quiet 2025 with the Los Angeles Chargers. He played only 169 offensive snaps in 13 games last season and caught just seven passes, but before that he had four straight seasons with at least 50 catches while playing for the Minnesota Vikings and New York Jets.
He also grades out as a much better pass blocker than Brock Wright, according to Pro Football Focus.
That combination gives Conklin a real path to challenge Wright for the No. 2 tight end job. The bigger question is whether he can actually force the issue in camp, or whether the two can simply coexist on the roster.
Tim Twentyman of Lions.com framed the competition differently in his pre-training camp look at the position, putting Conklin in the mix for the No. 3 job and calling it the best battle in the room:
"Detroit will have a new tight end No. 3 this year after bringing in the veteran Conklin this offseason to compete for the role with four other youngsters ready to show what they can do. Conklin wasn't a big part of the Los Angeles Chargers' passing attack last year, catching just seven passes in 13 games, but from 2021-2024 playing with Minnesota and New York Jets he went four straight seasons catching 61, 58, 61 and 51 passes. He was impressive in OTA workouts before sitting out minicamp with an undisclosed injury."
That setup suggests Wright is being treated as the Lions’ No. 2 tight end for now. He’s the established name, even if that familiarity comes with some baggage. Conklin, meanwhile, is being slotted into a fight lower on the depth chart by Twentyman’s read.
Still, the minicamp injury matters. Conklin missing that work could have been nothing more than a precaution, but it also makes his status one of the quieter early camp storylines to watch.
If he’s healthy, he has a chance to make this a real competition. If he isn’t, Wright’s grip on the spot gets a lot stronger.
There’s room for both veterans on the roster because the players behind them are still unproven. The real issue is whether the depth chart order can change. And with Dan Campbell pushing a renewed spirit of competition, Wright looks vulnerable.
Conklin has a legitimate shot to pass him. Whether he does it starts with one basic requirement: being healthy when training camp opens.
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