As tough as it is to make meaningful evaluations during off-season work done in shorts, one player who turned heads for the Detroit Lions this spring was tight end Cole Wick.
An undrafted rookie from tiny Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Wick took some first-team reps with the Lions' offense as top tight ends Brandon Pettigrew and Eric Ebron missed time with injuries.
At 6-feet-6 and 255 pounds, Wick was signed largely because of his big frame and willingness to block, but he showed good hands during noncontact drills at organized team activities and minicamp.
Lions tight ends coach Al Golden said Wick is a “true combo tight end” whose ability to make the 53-man roster will be determined by how he returns from the team’s six-week summer vacation.