Conklin expected back next week

Vikings HC Mike Zimmer expects TE Tyler Conklin to return to practice next week. He's been sidelined since injuring his hamstring on August 16. With TE Irv Smith out at least for the start of the season -- and potentially much longer -- Conklin is atop Minnesota's depth chart. We'll see if the Vikings add to the position.

Jets TEs Tyler Conklin and C.J. Uzomah split first-team work in Saturday's preseason game. Conklin played five snaps and ran two routes vs. Uzomah's six snaps and three routes, according to Pro Football Focus. We'll see what the rotation looks like early in the regular season, but Conklin will not be a viable Week 1 fantasy play.

Jets TE Tyler Conklin caught all 6 of his targets for 80 yards in Sunday's lopsided loss to the Seahawks. He tallied 35 more yards than any other Jet and doubled his nearest teammate in catches. TE C.J. Uzomah beat Conklin by 1 target but caught just 3 for 24 yards. WR Garrett Wilson led the team with 11 targets but managed only 3 receptions for 18 yards. The Jets -- now eliminated from the playoffs -- visit Miami for the regular-season finale. That has been a positive scoring matchup for TEs; neutral for WRs.

Jets TE Tyler Conklin caught both of QB Zach Wilson's TD passes in Sunday's loss to the Patriots. In all, he snared 6 receptions for 79 yards on a team-high 10 targets. Wilson completed just 20 of 41 passes but generated 355 yards. He tossed 3 INTs to go with the 2 TDs. Don't expect passing success for anyone in a Week 9 clash with the Bills.

Jets TE Tyler Conklin remained heavily involved in the offense in Sunday's win over the Jets, playing the 4th most snaps among non-QB skill-position players on offense. The problem is that TE C.J. Uzomah was among the 3 who played more. Uzomah edged Conklin 41-40 in total snaps and also ran 5 more pass routes. Compare that to Week 4, when Conklin doubled Uzomah's routes and played 26 more snaps in all (with QB Zach Wilson back). One game of the depleted receiving role doesn't make Conklin a "must" drop, but he's also not a "must" hold at a position where many fantasy football lineups are desperate for a decent starting option. Don't expect him to be close to our top 12 at the position for a Week 6 visit to Green Bay. We'll see whether the playing-time alterations become a trend.

ESPN's Rich Cimini on Wednesday predicted that Jets TE Tyler Conklin will catch "at least 60 passes" this year. Cimini said the free-agent addition had an impressive summer and expects him to emerge as a "safety blanket" for Jets QBs. That's not a huge reception total over a 17-game season, but only 13 TEs reached 60 catches last year. So it would be a fantasy-relevant level. Consider this at least the latest indication than we should bet Conklin over new teammate C.J. Uzomah among Jets TEs.