It looks like the Lions got it right with the 8th pick of the draft. T.J. Hockenson looks like he’s going to be an elite, difference-making tight end for a lot of years.
Hockenson caught 6 passes in his first game, and most of them were of the impressive variety. And once the ball is in his hands, he’s got the wheels to rip off chunks of yardage.
He finished with 6 catches for 131 yards and a touchdown in his first game. Since 2000, only 16 other tight ends have gone over 100 yards and scored in the first week of the season.
Only two tight ends have finished with more than 130 yards in a season opening game since 2000, and it’s actually just one guy – Jared Cook, who had big debut games for the Rams and Raiders. Cook will play his first game for the Saints tonight.
Only one other rookie tight end has gone over 100 yards in a Week 1 game since 2000 – Will Dissly, who got loose for a long catch at Denver last year.
| FAST-STARTING TIGHT ENDS | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Player | Opp. | Score | No | Yds | Avg | TD |
| 2018 | Jared Cook, Oak. | LAR | L 13-33 | 9 | 180 | 20.0 | 0 |
| 2013 | Jared Cook, St.L. | Ariz. | W 27-24 | 7 | 141 | 20.1 | 2 |
| 2019 | T.J. Hockenson, Det. | at Ariz. | T 27-27 | 6 | 131 | 21.8 | 1 |
| 2017 | Austin Hooper, Atl. | at Chi. | W 23-17 | 2 | 128 | 64.0 | 1 |
| 2005 | Chris Baker, NYJ | at K.C. | L 7-27 | 7 | 124 | 17.7 | 1 |
| 2004 | Antonio Gates, S.D. | at Hou. | W 27-20 | 8 | 123 | 15.4 | 0 |
| 2018 | Rob Gronkowski, N.E. | Hou. | W 27-20 | 7 | 123 | 17.6 | 1 |
| 2019 | Evan Engram, NYG | at Dall. | L 17-35 | 11 | 116 | 10.5 | 1 |
| 2007 | Jason Witten, Dall. | NYG | W 45-35 | 6 | 116 | 19.3 | 1 |
| 2011 | Jason Witten, Dall. | at NYJ | L 24-27 | 6 | 110 | 18.3 | 0 |
| 2013 | Julius Thomas, Den. | Bal. | W 49-27 | 5 | 110 | 22.0 | 2 |
| 2015 | Austin Seferian-Jenkins, T.B. | Ten. | L 14-42 | 5 | 110 | 22.0 | 2 |
| 2019 | Mark Andrews, Balt. | at Mia. | W 59-10 | 8 | 108 | 13.5 | 1 |
| 2013 | Jordan Cameron, Clev. | Mia. | L 10-23 | 9 | 108 | 12.0 | 1 |
| 2007 | Antonio Gates, S.D. | Chi. | W 14-3 | 9 | 107 | 11.9 | 1 |
| 2015 | Travis Kelce, K.C. | at Hou. | W 27-20 | 6 | 106 | 17.7 | 2 |
| 2018 | Will Dissly, Sea. | at Den. | L 24-27 | 3 | 105 | 35.0 | 1 |
| 2008 | Bo Scaife, Ten. | Jac. | W 17-10 | 6 | 105 | 17.5 | 0 |
| 2011 | Fred Davis, Was. | NYG | W 28-14 | 5 | 105 | 21.0 | 0 |
| 2015 | Tyler Eifert, Cin. | at Oak. | W 33-13 | 9 | 104 | 11.6 | 2 |
| 2011 | Aaron Hernandez, N.E. | at Mia. | W 38-24 | 7 | 103 | 14.7 | 1 |
| 2006 | Heath Miller, Pitt. | Mia. | W 28-17 | 3 | 101 | 33.7 | 1 |
—Ian Allan