The most productive tight end in the NFC over the past month has no idea what his recent hot streak means for his future.

But as Eric Ebron prepares for Sunday's season finale against the Green Bay Packers, one thing is clear: He's not sweating the unknown, either.

"It’s just a good position to be in if you’re me," Ebron told the Free Press this week.

Ebron was talking about his upside as a 24-year-old pass catcher who's still not in the prime of his career, but he could have been talking about a myriad of other things including his contract situation and life itself.

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The Detroit Lions exercised the 2018 option on Ebron's rookie contract last spring, and for the first half of the season it looked like he wouldn't be around to see that $8.25 million payday in Detroit.

He struggled with drops and inconsistent play early on, and by mid-October Ebron was getting booed by his own fans every time he touched the ball.

But Ebron became a first-time father during the bye week, that experience gave him a new outlook on life, and his play has picked up to the point that he's been one of the best tight ends in the NFL since.

Ebron has four or more catches in each of the Lions' last six games, and he's had his two highest receiving totals of the season (83 and 94 yards) in the last three weeks. New York Giants rookie Evan Engram is the only NFC tight end with more receiving yards in the month of December (252 to 248), though Ebron has more touchdowns (two to one) and receptions (24 to 20).

"My targets went up, right?" Ebron said of his increased production. "There it is. Targets go up, good things happen, so therefore the coaching staff allowed me to, they put it into my hands to do what I do best and I live with it. So that’s all you can ask someone to do is their job and just did my job."

Far from fool's gold, Ebron's production seems sustainable going forward.

First, he admits to having "a new perspective" on life thanks to his son, Oliver.

"I don’t think it changed how I played, I just think it changes my happiness," Ebron said. "There’s a lot more things to be happy about. Those people that have kids will understand. For those that don’t, it’ll go over their heads. But I just think it just changes your happiness."

Second, the Lions have made a concerted effort to get Ebron involved early in games, Ebron has responded by winning on routes all over the field, and quarterback Matthew Stafford has started to trust his tight end in key situations.

Last week, Ebron scored the Lions' first touchdown in a 26-17 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on a 33-yard pass on third-and-5.

"He had a couple games where he didn’t play like Eric (early in the season), but I’ve said this often, all that guy’s done, he works at it and all he’s done is keep getting better," Lions coach Jim Caldwell said. "He might not have doubled his output (from last season) by the sheer numbers, but I think he’s done some things where you see this guy is a factor, makes plays for us."

As for what that means for 2018, Ebron said he doesn't know and doesn't much care.

His contract remains guaranteed for injury only for now, and the Lions can get out of it by cutting him anytime before the new league year begins.

But given the other holes on their roster, and given their lack of depth at tight end, it seems more likely that he'll spend next season in Detroit.

"I don’t really care," Ebron said. "It is what it is. I’ve never been a futuristic person. I live day by day and however it shakes out is however it’s going to shake out. I can’t dictate it. Whatever it is, I roll with the punches, just go from there. Whether it’s here, whether it’s not, whatever. That’s just how I am."

Ebron said he hasn't talked with general manager Bob Quinn about the team's plans, and he wouldn't speculate on whether he's done enough to stick around.

"That’s not up to me," he said. "Do I want to be (here)? I’m not answering that. If I’m here next year, I’m going to love every bit of it and I’m going to continue to play my game."

Asked why he didn't want to answer if he wanted to stay in Detroit, Ebron reiterated that the decision isn't his and said "if I didn’t want to be a Lion, (shoot) I would have tried to opt out a long (expletive) time ago. I’m still here."

"I love the situation I’m in right now," he said. "I mean, any person would just simply because it’s not really your decision to make. It’s up to other people."

Contact Dave Birkett: dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett. Download our Lions Xtra app for free on Apple and Android!