Detroit Lions tight end Sam Laporta was out there at mini camp on June 16, 2026, but the real story for the Lions’ tight end room in 2026 is how many guys are going to be lining up next to him. This isn't just about depth; it's about a whole new offensive philosophy brewing in Allen Park, and it could seriously shake things up.
The Lions' Wild TE Roster Ride
Man, you gotta look at what the Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell regime has been doing with the tight end spot. It's been a real rollercoaster, seriously. Back in 2021, they were rolling with mainly just two tight ends and Jason Cabinda, a fullback, plus a couple more on the practice squad. Then 2022 hit, and they opened with *four* tight ends, which is wild, before trimming it to three when Cabinda came back from injured reserve mid-season. The 2023 season started with three tight ends and a fullback again, but when Cabinda went to injured reserve, they only briefly brought in a fourth tight end before sticking to three for most of the season, using a bunch of players for that H-back role. Fast forward to 2024, and the fullback was out, replaced by three consistent tight ends. And in 2025? They stuck with three tight ends all season long, even when they lost their top three guys to injuries! It shows you they're committed to the position, but the *number* of guys making the cut has been anything but consistent.Petzing's Blueprint: Unleashing 13 Personnel
Here’s the real kicker: Drew Petzing, the Lions' new offensive coordinator, is about to drop some serious football nerd knowledge on the league. While everyone thinks Rams’ coach Sean McVay started the whole 13 personnel trend (that’s one running back, three tight ends, and one receiver), it was actually Petzing who got it going a few years back when he was with Arizona! This isn't some gimmick; Petzing uses this “heavier” skill-set-based look to absolutely mess with defenses, creating confusing looks and huge mismatches. He said it himself in an interview, you can’t just have three tight ends; they need to have a "multiple skill set." Why? Because it’s all about the matchups. If your tight ends can do a bunch of different things, you start dictating the play based on what the defense tries to do. He pointed out that defenses are way more varied now, it’s not just base or nickel anymore. With 13 personnel, you've got to be ready for everyone in the box and multiple gaps you didn't account for, and then Petzing can just spread things out and create mismatches you absolutely do not want. This training camp is going to be fascinating to watch. As camp progresses and we head into the preseason, every snap from these tight ends will be crucial for the Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell regime. How many tight ends will make the cut this time? More importantly, how will they use them to unleash Petzing’s vision? This isn't just about roster spots; it's about setting the tone for the entire 2026 season.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.