Overview
- Conklin officially signed on March 17 and said he still has "a lot of good football left," embracing roles that include blocking, special teams and mentorship.
- He joins Detroit as the No. 3 tight end behind Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright, providing veteran insurance as LaPorta continues to rehab a back injury following surgery.
- Under new coordinator Drew Petzing, who led the NFL in three–tight end usage during his Arizona tenure, Conklin could see increased playing time despite entering as TE3.
- Conklin’s production cratered with the Chargers in 2025 to seven catches for 101 yards in 13 games, which he attributed to specialized tight end roles that limited his usage.
- Before last season, he posted four straight 50-plus catch campaigns with the Vikings and Jets and owns career totals of 270 receptions, 2,645 yards and 11 touchdowns.