The Detroit Lions have made a notable addition to their tight end group, officially signing veteran Tyler Conklin to a one-year contract on March 13, 2026. This move, confirmed by both the team and Conklin’s agent Mike McCartney of VaynerSports, marks the return of the Michigan native to his home state and the NFC North, where his NFL journey began back in 2018. For Lions fans, the name Conklin might have sparked some initial confusion—some perhaps expecting the signing of tackle Jack Conklin—but it’s Tyler, the tight end and Central Michigan alumnus, who will now don Honolulu blue.
Conklin’s path to Detroit has been anything but ordinary. Drafted in the fifth round (157th overall) by the Minnesota Vikings in 2018, he spent four seasons in Minnesota before inking a three-year, $20 million deal with the New York Jets in 2022. Over those four years between his final Vikings season and his time with the Jets, Conklin established himself as a reliable pass-catcher, averaging 58 receptions and 554 yards per season. He played for the Jets from 2022 to 2024, then joined the Los Angeles Chargers in 2025. Throughout his eight-year NFL career, Conklin has appeared in 127 games (69 starts), amassing 270 receptions for 2,645 yards and 11 touchdowns. He’s earned $27 million in the league, including $2.98 million last year.
Last season with the Chargers, Conklin’s role was more limited. He appeared in 13 games, starting five, and hauled in seven passes for 101 yards on just 10 targets—a far cry from his more productive years. He averaged a healthy 14.4 yards per catch, but his offensive involvement was sporadic, and he was even a healthy scratch multiple times, including during the team’s playoff game against the New England Patriots. Chargers expert Jason Reed didn’t mince words about Conklin’s 2025 campaign, noting, “Tyler Conklin struggled at every turn for the Chargers in 2025, including a mistake that fundamentally cost the team the game against the New York Giants in Week 4.” Reed detailed a series of missteps: a fumble in Week 1 against the Chiefs, a missed screen in Week 3, a costly pick play in Week 4, and a dropped fourth-and-short in Week 5. “After all these mistakes, Conklin didn’t play much for the Chargers. He was too bad a blocker to justify getting significant snaps and his woeful showing in the passing game completely negated any value he had,” Reed added. In fact, after Week 5, Conklin played only 58 offensive snaps, 23 of which came in Week 18 when the Chargers rested their starters.
Despite these struggles, the Lions’ decision to sign Conklin is primarily viewed as a depth move, but it’s not without intrigue. Detroit’s tight end room has been in flux: Sam LaPorta, a former second-team All-Pro and Pro Bowler, missed the final eight games of 2025 due to season-ending back surgery, while Brock Wright finished the year on injured reserve with a throat injury. Wright, in particular, saw increased usage last season due to LaPorta’s absence. The Lions’ current tight end roster now features five players: Conklin, LaPorta, Wright, Zach Horton, and Thomas Gordon. LaPorta, for his part, has expressed optimism about his recovery, saying he expects to be “up, running around” during OTAs this summer and ready for training camp.
What makes Conklin’s signing even more compelling is his connection to new Lions offensive coordinator Drew Petzing. The two overlapped for two seasons in Minnesota, when Petzing worked with the Vikings’ quarterbacks and receivers. Jeremy Reisman of SB Nation highlighted this link, suggesting that reuniting with Petzing could provide Conklin with the fresh start he needs after a difficult 2025 season: “A change of scenery would do him well, and reuniting with (new Lions offensive coordinator Drew) Petzing, who overlapped with Conklin for two years with the Vikings in 2018-19, could be just the landing spot he needs.”
Conklin’s Michigan roots are another storyline that resonates with fans and the team’s recent free agency trends. He attended L’Anse Creuse High School - North before heading to Northwood, then transferring to Central Michigan. As a Chippewa, Conklin caught 83 passes for 1,159 yards and 11 touchdowns over three seasons, after redshirting his first year. The Lions have made a point of bringing homegrown talent back to the state—Conklin follows in the footsteps of Larry Borom, another Michigan native signed this offseason.
For the Chargers, Conklin’s departure—coupled with the loss of offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer to the Miami Dolphins—raises questions about their protection for Pro Bowl quarterback Justin Herbert. Herbert was sacked 54 times last season, the second-most in the NFL, trailing only Geno Smith of the Raiders and Cam Ward of the Titans, who each took 55. With Conklin gone, the Chargers will lean on Cole Strange, a former first-round pick by the Patriots, who joined Los Angeles from the Dolphins earlier in the week. The pressure is on the Chargers’ front office to shore up their blocking units before the offseason concludes.
Looking at Conklin’s career arc, the contrast between his productive years and his recent struggles is stark. Between his last season in Minnesota and his Jets tenure, Conklin averaged nearly 60 catches and over 550 yards per year—a level of output that would be welcomed in Detroit if he can recapture that form. However, his 2025 campaign with the Chargers was marred by errors, limited playing time, and a diminished role in both the passing and blocking game. Still, the Lions’ coaching staff appears willing to bet on Conklin’s experience, versatility, and familiarity with Petzing’s system.
As the Lions prepare for the 2026 season, the addition of Conklin brings both competition and insurance to a position group beset by injuries last year. Whether he can carve out a meaningful role behind LaPorta and Wright remains to be seen, but his presence adds a layer of veteran savvy and local pride to Detroit’s roster. Fans will be watching closely to see if Conklin can overcome his recent setbacks and contribute to a Lions team with postseason aspirations.
For now, Tyler Conklin’s homecoming is a story of second chances, renewed connections, and the hope that a fresh start in familiar territory can reignite a once-promising career. The Lions’ tight end battle just got a lot more interesting as the offseason unfolds.