{"id":863063,"date":"2026-04-10T10:42:25","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T10:42:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/863063\/"},"modified":"2026-04-10T10:42:25","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T10:42:25","slug":"lions-sign-veteran-te-tyler-conklin-to-bolster-offense","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/863063\/","title":{"rendered":"Lions Sign Veteran TE Tyler Conklin to Bolster Offense"},"content":{"rendered":"

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. \u203a<\/a><\/p>\n

\"AThe Lions’ signing of veteran tight end Tyler Conklin signals a shift in offensive strategy, with the versatile player expected to play a key role in the team’s new-look attack.Today in Detroit<\/p>\n

The Detroit Lions have signed veteran tight end Tyler Conklin to a multi-year deal, strengthening their offensive arsenal as they transition to a new offensive coordinator’s system that emphasizes the tight end position. Conklin, known for his well-rounded skill set as both a receiver and blocker, is expected to provide depth and competition behind promising young tight end Sam LaPorta.<\/p>\n

Why it matters<\/p>\n

The Lions’ signing of Conklin signals a strategic shift in their offensive approach under new coordinator Drew Petzing, who is expected to feature the tight end position more prominently. This move addresses a position of need for the Lions, who struggled with tight end depth last season due to injuries. Conklin’s versatility and experience should help the Lions execute Petzing’s vision for a more dynamic and multifaceted offense.<\/p>\n

The details<\/p>\n

Conklin, a 27-year-old tight end, spent the past season with the New York Jets after four years with the Minnesota Vikings. He is known for his ability to both catch passes and block effectively, making him an ideal fit for Petzing’s offensive scheme. The Lions are hoping Conklin’s presence will provide solid competition for the TE2 role and potentially push for more playing time, complementing the talents of their promising young tight end, Sam LaPorta.<\/p>\n

The Lions signed Conklin on April 10, 2026.Conklin spent the 2025 season with the New York Jets.<\/p>\n

The players<\/p>\n

Tyler Conklin<\/p>\n

A 27-year-old veteran tight end who has spent the past five seasons in the NFL, most recently with the New York Jets.<\/p>\n

Sam LaPorta<\/p>\n

The Lions’ promising young tight end who is expected to play a larger role in the team’s new offensive system under coordinator Drew Petzing.<\/p>\n

Drew Petzing<\/p>\n

The Lions’ new offensive coordinator, who is known for his emphasis on the tight end position in his offensive schemes.<\/p>\n

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\n What they\u2019re saying<\/p>\n

\u201cTyler Conklin is the perfect fit for our new offensive approach. His versatility as both a receiver and blocker will be a valuable asset as we look to maximize the tight end position in our scheme.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2014 Dan Campbell, Head Coach, Detroit Lions<\/p>\n

\u201cI’m excited to work with Tyler and help him reach his full potential. His skill set aligns perfectly with what we want to do on offense, and I believe he can be a key contributor to our success.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2014 Drew Petzing, Offensive Coordinator, Detroit Lions<\/p>\n

What\u2019s next<\/p>\n

The Lions will continue to evaluate their roster and may look to add additional talent at the tight end position in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft, with Conklin potentially serving as a mentor to a younger player.<\/p>\n

The takeaway<\/p>\n

The Lions’ signing of Tyler Conklin represents a strategic move to bolster their offense and adapt to the new coordinator’s vision. Conklin’s versatility and experience should provide a valuable boost to the tight end room, potentially unlocking new offensive possibilities for the Lions in the 2026 season.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Got story updates? Submit your updates here. \u203a The Lions’ signing of veteran tight end Tyler Conklin signals…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":863064,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2071],"tags":[146,113,2506,7,147,6],"class_list":{"0":"post-863063","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-detroit-lions","8":"tag-detroit","9":"tag-detroit-lions","10":"tag-detroitlions","11":"tag-football","12":"tag-lions","13":"tag-nfl"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/116379999408934230","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/863063","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=863063"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/863063\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/863064"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=863063"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=863063"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=863063"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}