Rookie tight end T.J. Hockenson is impressing his Detroit Lions coaches and teammates during the team's training camp.

Hockenson, 22, was selected eighth overall by Detroit in the 2019 NFL Draft out of Iowa, where he spent two seasons playing for the Hawkeyes after a redshirt true freshman year.

Here's what DetroitLions.com senior writer Tim Twentyman had to say about the young TE's stock at camp:

Hockenson’s been a fixture on the first-team offense in Detroit since he arrived for the offseason training program, and that’s been consistent through the first couple weeks of training camp as well.

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Twentyman adds that the Lions only reaped 45 receptions from their tight end unit last season in 2018. Second-year head coach Matt Patricia has new toys to play with in the preseason, however. Along with the addition of Hockenson via last April's draft, Detroit signed 25-year-old TE Jesse James, who spent his first four years in professional football after leaving Penn State his junior year with the ever-contenders Pittsburgh Steelers.
More from Twentyman:

Hockenson played a lot in-line on the line of scrimmage at Iowa, and comes to the NFL more polished as a run blocker than most tight ends entering the NFL because of the way the college game is played.

I expect him to be a big part of this offense in Detroit.

Further, Twentyman mentions some solid plays during practice from the incoming rookie tight end, describing an end-zone grab and “full extension” in the back for the touchdown score.

The Lions also signed Isaac Nauta, undrafted free agent Donald Parham, and former Bills TE Logan Thomas to round out their tight-end corps.