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Detroit Lions rookie tight end T.J. Hockenson is enjoying is introduction to NFL football. The tight end is having a big day against the Arizona Cardinals, including a fourth quarter touchdown to potentially seal the game.
Have a day, T.J. Hockenson! @TheeHOCK8 #DETvsAZ #OnePride
— NFL (@NFL) September 8, 2019
: FOX
: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app
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The score holds more importance than just the rookie’s first NFL touchdown, though. It also gets him to 124 yards on the day, setting the record for most ever receiving yards by a tight end in their NFL debut, per the Lions official PR account.
#Lions TE T.J. Hockenson (@TheeHOCK8) has set an @NFL record for receiving yards in a tight end's first game with 124 yards, passing 49ers TE Monty Stickles' previous record of 123 receiving yards, which he set on Sept. 25, 1960.#OnePride
— Detroit Lions PR (@LionsPR) September 8, 2019
Hockenson was selected by the Lions with the eight overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft out of the University of Iowa. He did not feature much in preseason, suggesting that the coaching staff had big plans for the rookie in his first NFL season.
It was also quarterback Matthew Stafford’s third touchdown pass of the day, as the Lions quarterback is proving to have a good start to the 2019 season as well.