It gets overshadowed by the Lions’ inept defensive effort, but Detroit tight end T.J. Hockenson had one of the greatest individual games for a TE in NFL history.
Hockenson hauled in eight receptions for 179 yards, two touchdowns and a two-point conversion in Detroit’s 48-45 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 4. Those career-high numbers set a few historical marks.
The 179 receiving yards broke the Lions team record for a tight end in a game, a record that had stood since Jim Gibbons had 161 back in December of 1964. Hockenson’s previous career mark came in his very first NFL game back in 2019 when he went for 131 yards on six catches. Hockenson had not topped 100 receiving yards in a game since that debut until Week 4.
In the process of shattering the team record and his personal best, Hockenson also wrote his name into the NFL history books. Hockenson is the first TE to ever net 175 receiving yards, two TDs and a two-point conversion in the same game. Only two other players have ever done it: Isaac Bruce in 1995 and Roddy White in 2010.
Hockenson also became just the 10th tight end to ever top 175 yards and two TDs in a game. The NFL record is held by Shannon Sharpe, who caught 12 passes for 214 yards and two TDs back in 2002.
His team came up short on the day, but Hockenson still had an incredible game for the Lions in Week 4.