Detriot Lions tight end T.J. Hockenson is expected to start the season as the team's backup tight end behind Jesse James, according to Terez A. Paylor of Yahoo Sports.

This doesn't seem to be a knock-on Hockenson, but the team seems to realize that he is going to need a little more time learning before he can take over that role. The Lions drafted Hockenson with the eighth overall pick in April, and his coaches and teammates have given him nothing but praise.

Not only is he a great wide receiver, but he is a really solid blocker, and that is something that makes C.J. Anderson the most excited.

“He’s nasty,” running back C.J. Anderson told Yahoo Sports. “He’s a dog — he’s gonna be a good player.”

Lions general manager Bob Quinn watched a lot of film heading into the draft and also noticed just how phenomenal he was blocking.

“It didn’t matter what game you put on, the one thing that you could hang your hat on is that he was blocking at a very good level against any level of competition,” Quinn said, referring to Hockenson’s college tape. “That’s what was so great about it.”

Hockenson will start the season as the number two, but if he can be a reliable blocker that should still get him a lot of time on the field, and it might not be long before he overtakes James and is listed first on the depth chart. Even as the second tight end, he should get some good run early in the season.