Lions Camp Competition Just Took A Telling Turn At Tight End

Detroit Lions bolster their tight end roster amid a spate of injuries by signing seasoned journeyman Nick Muse while releasing receiver Tarik Black.

The Detroit Lions kept busy on Monday, making a roster shuffle just before the first day of padded practices in training camp.

Detroit added tight end Nick Muse and moved on from wide receiver Tarik Black in the corresponding transaction. The move comes after head coach Dan Campbell said in his press conference that undrafted tight end Miles Kitselman had suffered an injury that is expected to keep him out for a while.

Muse brings four seasons of NFL experience to Detroit, though his production has been limited. He has one career catch, a 22-yard reception in 2023 with the Minnesota Vikings. In 2024, he appeared in four games for Minnesota.

A seventh-round pick by the Vikings out of South Carolina, Muse began his college career at William & Mary before transferring. He also has a brother, Tanner, who spent four seasons as a linebacker with the Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Chargers and Jacksonville Jaguars organization.

Muse started last season with the Philadelphia Eagles organization after signing to their practice squad late in the previous season, a year that ended with a Super Bowl victory. He was released during final cuts in 2025, then spent time on the practice squads of the Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams and New York Jets. His stint in Arizona may have helped create a connection with offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, who now holds the same job in Detroit.

Kitselman’s injury adds to a thin spot in the tight end room early in camp. Before going down, he had been working with the first-team offense. The Lions have already had another tight end suffer an injury expected to sideline him, and offseason workout injuries pushed Conklin to start the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list.

Detroit has now made two signings at tight end during camp, the other being veteran Anthony Firkser, with Zach Horton going the other way.

Black’s release ends a short stay with the Lions after he was one of several UFL players brought in during the offseason workout period. He spent the spring with the Louisville Kings, where he totaled 27 catches for 388 yards and three receiving touchdowns.

He joined Detroit alongside fellow UFL receivers Lucky Jackson, Tay Martin and Lawrence Keys III.

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