Tyler Conklin just officially passed his physical, and that means the veteran tight end is set to come off the Physically Unable to Perform list when the Lions return to practice on Thursday. This isn’t just some routine transaction, folks. This is a massive sigh of relief for a Detroit tight end room that has been absolutely ravaged by injuries in training camp. Seriously, we’re talking about a dire situation here. Conklin’s return is a much-needed lifeline for a position group that was quickly heading towards a full-blown crisis, and nobody in Detroit is complaining about that!
Tight End Room in Shambles? Not Anymore!
Before Conklin got the green light, Detroit’s tight end depth chart was looking rough. We’re talking MASH unit territory. Veteran Anthony Firkser is already sitting on injured reserve with a broken leg, and just to twist the knife, Miles Kitselman also got slapped with an IR designation for his own leg injury. That’s two key guys out right off the bat! The Lions tried to stop the bleeding, bringing in Nick Muse and re-signing Zach Horton, trying to patch up the holes. But let’s be real, those were stop-gap measures. None of those additions packed the kind of punch, the experience, or the sheer impact that Conklin brings to the field. His return, straight off the PUP list, is undoubtedly the biggest and most important maneuver for that entire tight end group. Period.
Conklin’s Got the Chops to Make a Real Impact
So, who is this guy? Conklin is an eight-year veteran, which means he’s seen it all in this league. He’s proven he can produce, too. We’re talking at least 400 receiving yards in four different seasons during his career. Not only that, he consistently snagged at least 50 passes in each of the four seasons leading up to his tough year with the Chargers. That’s consistent production, folks! Detroit understood his value, signing him to a smart one-year, $1.3 million deal this offseason with the clear goal of having him compete for crucial depth behind starters Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright. What does he bring? A killer blend of receiving skills and physical play. That’s exactly what Detroit’s tight end room was desperately missing last season when depth issues were a real headache. Oh, and just to show how deep the injury bug has bitten, the Lions also re-signed wide receiver Tarik Black to fill the roster spot left open by Kitselman hitting IR. And Lawrence Keys? He got waived with an injury designation but then reverted straight back to injured reserve. It’s been wild!
So, with Conklin set to hit the practice field on Thursday, the Lions are finally getting a veteran presence back in a position group that was screaming for help. You know everyone in Allen Park is holding their breath, hoping he quickly shakes off that calf injury he suffered back in the spring and gets into game shape fast. The season is just around the corner, and this team absolutely needs him to step up.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pride of Detroit.
Leave a Reply