There was an unexpected Detroit Lions mention on the NFL’s transaction wire on Thursday. Per the league’s official log, the Lions held a tryout for second-year player Drew Himmelman.
Listing Himmelman as a tight end is interesting. The 6-foot-9, 315-pound Illinois State product entered the NFL in 2021 as an offensive tackle. Himmelman even saw time on the Denver Broncos active roster at the end of 2021 as a tackle. The Commanders signed him earlier this offseason but Himmelman failed his physical with Washington.
The Lions already have quite a crowd at tight end in training camp. Detroit had eight TEs active in Thursday’s practice, a number that includes recent acquisition Devin Funchess and two undrafted rookies, Derrick Deese Jr. and Nolan Givan. Second-year players Brock Wright and Shane Zylstra are also competing with veteran free agent Garrett Griffin and fifth-round rookie James Mitchell to back up T.J. Hockenson.
It could be an error on the NFL’s part in listing Himmelman as a TE. The Lions do have room to add competition to the reserve offensive tackle room with vet Dan Skipper still absent on the non-football illness list.
Himmelman was not signed as of press time.
Lions training camp notebook: Day 2 top observations