The Daily DLP previews the Lions’ tight end room, which could already be set ahead of training camp.
Is Sam LaPorta fully cleared and what does it mean for the Detroit Lions offense?
Yes. Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta is fully cleared to participate in training camp after a microdiscectomy for his back. As Jeff Risdon noted, the procedure carries some recurrence risk, but LaPorta’s efficient production, route versatility and red-zone finishing restore a core option for quarterback Jared Goff in Detroit’s NFL-best skill group.
LaPorta is the clear number one tight end in Detroit. He functions as the offense’s chain mover and a red-zone target alongside Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs. Game plans will flex week to week, with some games funneling to LaPorta near the top of the pecking order based on coverage.
Who is TE2 right now, Tyler Conklin or Brock Wright?
Tyler Conklin holds the higher receiving ceiling and overtakes Brock Wright if Detroit gets the New York Jets version of Conklin. If Conklin mirrors his Chargers stint, Brock Wright retains the role. As Jeff Risdon put it, Conklin’s upside as a mover and flex option can bump Wright to TE3 if Conklin is right.
Detroit Lions tight end Brock Wright’s last three seasons tell a consistent story: 13 catches, 91 yards, 1 touchdown; 13 catches, 100 yards, 2 touchdowns; and last year 14 catches, 108 yards, and 2 touchdowns. He is 27, smart and crafty, but lacks athletic dynamism. Risdon added that Wright’s run-blocking has graded around the bottom of the top tier to the middle tier range for tight ends.
Detroit Lions tight end Tyler Conklin, 30, is listed at 6-3, 248. Risdon relayed that Conklin’s absence from minicamp appeared excused after conversations with the tight ends coach and offensive coordinator Drew Petzing. Conklin thrived as a pass catcher with the Jets but struggled with the Chargers under Jim Harbaugh, including one bad early day that soured the fit. When right, Conklin can split out, motion, and complement LaPorta in two tight end sets, even if inline is not his strength.
Which depth tight ends have a real path to the 53 or practice squad?
After the top three, the group is chasing one realistic practice squad spot. Risdon gave Horton the early edge because he has been in the building and can also play some fullback. Detroit also has Miller Kitselman as a UDFA and Thomas Gordon in camp.
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jackson Meeks is practicing at tight end, but at 6-2, 218 he is undersized for NFL in-line work and, per Risdon, visibly smaller than Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa. TeSlaa is a big-bodied wide receiver, not a tight end, and remains a wide receiver assignment despite his frame.
Will Drew Petzing feature two or three tight end sets in Detroit?
Expect frequent two tight end looks, with three tight end packages possible even though none appeared in minicamp. Petzing used three tight ends in Arizona, and in Cleveland he deployed two tight ends as window dressing to feed Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry and Nick Chubb. That history fits with Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff’s strength in distributing to the best matchup.
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