Like all NFL clubs, the Detroit Lions had to be down to the NFL-mandated 53-man roster by 6:00 p.m. ET on Sunday evening, and they did so by announcing a wave of roster cuts.
One of those releases the club announced was veteran tight end Tyler Conklin, who joined the club on a one-year contract earlier in the offseason. But while he was released, the Lions are changing course.
According to multiple reports, the Lions have re-signed Conklin as confirmed by CBS Sports reporter Matt Zenitz.
The Lions are signing tight end Tyler Conklin, sources tell CBS Sports,” he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Was released by Detroit Sunday but now set to re-join the team. Has 270 career catches.”
He continued by saying Detroit’s plan all along was to bring Conklin back:
“The plan all along for the Lions was to quickly re-sign Conklin,” he wrote. “Had four straight 50+ catch seasons from 2021-24 for a combination of the Jets and Vikings.”
The Detroit Lions Have Re-Signed Tight End Tyler Conklin
Earlier in the offseason, the Lions signed Conklin, who is a native of Chesterfield, Michigan, to a one-year contract carrying a $1.3 million base salary and a $1.075 million cap hit.
He then immediately began endearing himself to his new club by expressing optimism that this season is going to be different for the Lions than the disappointment they experienced in 2025, missing the postseason.
“I haven’t been here that long, but I have noticed, first, I think there’s a feeling in the building of like, how disappointed everybody is,” Conklin said. “And last year, I think that’s important, right? Because a lot of times, a lot of people or a team, or overall a whole team is coming in and is like, ‘It’s a new year!’, whatever. Like, ‘It’ll be better this year, we’ll make the playoffs.’
“I feel like I fit well in that, like when they were looking for vets to come in, people who do things the right way, people who play hard, who play the game the right way. I feel like I fit that, and that was one of the reasons why I was excited to be here.”
He continued:
“I mean, the way everybody works, it’s exciting, right?” he said. “I hate being here this time of the year and talking about what could be, your Super Bowls or playoffs, right? Everyone wants to win a Super Bowl, everybody wants to go to the playoffs. Everybody thinks they can do it, you wouldn’t be playing the sport if you didn’t think you could do it.”
Tyler Conklin Is Back With The Lions After Being Released
Conklin, who was selected in the fifth round (157th overall pick) by the divisional rival Minnesota Vikings in the 2018 NFL Draft, has also seen time with the New York Jets and Los Angeles Chargers.
Last season with the Chargers, Conklin caught seven passes for 101 yards (14.4 yards per catch) and rushed once for two yards last season in 13 games played.
In his NFL career, he’s racked up 2,645 receiving yards on 270 receptions and 11 receiving touchdowns.
Lions Suddenly Change Course On Released Veteran Tight End Tyler Conklin