Wright was tendered by the Lions on Monday, paving the way for him to return to Detroit in 2023, Kyel Meinke of MLive.com reports.
What it means:
Wright was one of five exclusive-rights free agents tendered by the Lions. The tight end had 18 catches for 216 yards and four touchdowns in 2022.
Wright played 34 of the Lions' 60 snaps on offense and failed to reel in his lone target in Sunday's 20-16 win over the Packers.
What it means:
After Shane Zylstra scored three times in a Week 16 loss to the Panthers, Wright came through with two touchdowns in a Week 17 win over the Bears, but both tight ends came up empty in the season finale. While combining to play 56 snaps Week 18, Wright and Zylstra went without a catch, as third-stringer James Mitchell's seven-yard reception amounted to the only production from the position group. Even though his opportunities picked up following the trade of T.J. Hockenson to Minnesota in November, Wright finished the 2022 campaign with an unremarkable 18-216-4 receiving line on 24 targets over his 16 appearances. Wright is an exclusive-rights free agent this offseason and will most likely be retained, but expect the Lions to at least explore outside options at tight end this offseason rather than promising the 24-year-old the starting gig heading into 2023.
Wright caught three of four targets for 13 yards with two touchdowns during Sunday's 41-10 win over the Bears.
What it means:
Wright continues to make key plays for Detroit, but he is still not seeing enough volume to be worthy of fantasy consideration. The Notre Dame product will be a touchdown-dependent fantasy play in Week 18 against Green Bay.
Wright secured his only target for 11 yards during Saturday's loss to Carolina.
What it means:
On the heels of his game-winning, 51-yard touchdown scamper in Week 15, Wright saw no increase in his pass-catching role a week later. Instead, backup tight end Shane Zylstra stole the show with a trio of touchdown catches while finishing with six targets to Wright's one. All Lions tight ends will remain highly questionable fantasy plays when Detroit takes on Chicago in Week 17.
Wright caught one of two targets for 51 yards with one touchdown during Sunday's 20-17 win over the Jets.
What it means:
Wright wasn't involved in the passing game until the fourth quarter, when he dropped a wide-open pass on the final offensive drive before galloping half of the field for the go-ahead touchdown on fourth down. It will be interesting to see if this demonstration of his receiving upside will allow Wright to see increased opportunities down the stretch.
Wright saw one target in the passing game but did not catch a pass during Sunday's win over Minnesota.
What it means:
Wright again logged about half of the offensive snaps, but -- for a second consecutive week -- the tight end failed to do much in the box score despite the Lions' offense again firing on all cylinders. He'll remain a fantasy afterthought in Week 15 against the Jets.
