Tyler Conklin: I've got a lot of good football left in me

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Despite playing with one of the league's best quarterbacks last season with the Chargers, tight end Tyler Conklin had his worst season since 2019. He played a career-low 13 games and saw the second-fewest offensive touches of his career (169), finishing with seven receptions for 101 yards in his only season with the Chargers. Conklin, 30, signed with the Lions in free agency and expressed confidence in being able to rebound this season. "I think I can definitely be very productive in the pass game still," Conklin said, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press . "I think just because one situation didn't quite work out the way anybody wanted it doesn't mean you just, like, can't do it anymore." Conkin, who arrives as the No. 3 tight end behind Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright, caught 50-plus passes for four consecutive seasons for the Vikings (2021) and Jets (2022-24) before landing with the Chargers. New Lions offensive coordinator Drew Petzing ran more three-tight-end sets than any play-caller in the NFL the past three seasons with the Cardinals. "Whether I’m catching passes, whether I’m blocking more, whether I’m playing special teams, whether I’m just mentoring, whatever that role is, I want to help this team win," Conklin said. "But I've definitely got a lot of good football left in me."