T.J. Hockenson, through his first five games last season: 25 targets, 15 receptions, 187 yards, two touchdowns.
T.J. Hockenson, through his first five games this season: 25 targets, 17 receptions, 197 yards, three touchdowns.
A slight uptick in production? Sure. The breakout the Lions were hoping for? Nope, not yet.
"I think right now, I’m just looking for him to be more consistent, basically down in and down out," offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said Tuesday.
Bevell said this offseason he wanted to get Hockenson more involved. Needed to get Hockenson more involved. While Detroit's passing numbers are down overall, Hockenson leads the team in targets and ranks second only to Kenny Golladay in targets per game.
At the same time, Hockenson acknowledged it was his own duty to win more of his matchups. This is where the plan hasn't quite come to fruition. Maybe it's the lingering effects of last year's ankle injury, but Hockenson's inability to create separation downfield has limited his impact as a receiver.
He has just four catches -- on nine targets -- for 26 yards over his last two games. Credit Hockenson for turning two of those catches into touchdowns. He also scored on a two-point conversion. And credit him further for helping the Lions pound the ball on the ground in last week's win over the Jags.
We're still waiting on that three-down defensive problem that Detroit drafted eighth overall.
"If you watch this last game, probably one of his best games in terms of his overall blocking. I thought he did a really nice job there and took a step forward," said Bevell. "But still I think there were some things in the pass game where we’re looking for him to continue to gain some separation and come through with some big plays for us.”
Hockenson ranks 15th among NFL tight ends in yards per game (39.4). He ranks 19th in yards per reception (11.6), among those with at least 10 catches. The big plays are exactly what's missing, and exactly what the Lions were hoping for more of this season.
After undergoing ankle surgery last December and rehabbing for most of the offseason, Hockenson said he was '100 percent' ahead of Week 1. He doesn't appear to be hobbled. He does appear to be lacking a level of burst, both getting off the line and coming out of his breaks. His routes are flatter than they are vertical.
“T.J.’s been through a lot in his young career with the injury that he had," said Bevell. "I think his progression last year was going in a good trajectory, and then obviously the injury shifts your focus to having to overcome that. Put a lot of time and energy into that injury and I think he’s done a nice job of doing that.
"He’s worked really tirelessly to improve his game."
Work ethic has never been a question for Hockenson. Neither has explosiveness, relative to players at his position. He's shown us the ability to gain yards in chunks, and the Lions will continue to try to find him downfield. Bevell resisted the idea that Hockenson is simply a target in the red zone.
“I wouldn’t necessarily say that, no. I do think he’s one of our go-to guys. He’s one of the guys we’re trying to create plays or create opportunities for," Bevell said. "So just continue to try to get him the ball really all over the field."
The ball has come Hockenson's way this year, and now it's back in his court. The Lions believe he can make a bigger impact. They believe he can break into the upper echelon of NFL tight ends. He remains on the outside looking in, nearing the halfway mark of his second season. If Hockenson's ankle is a problem, they'll have to stay patient.
If he's as healthy as he says he is, they'll have to start seeing more.