DETROIT -- T.J. Hockenson’s rookie season began with the best professional debut by a tight end in NFL history. It has all been downhill since.

Now it could be over.

The first-round pick left the 24-20 loss against Chicago on Thanksgiving with an injury and did not return. He was later seen on crutches in the locker room, and the Detroit Free Press is reporting he was later in a boot.

Here's a look at the play Lions T.J. Hockenson was injured on. He was reportedly (per @davebirkett) leaving Ford Field on crutches.



(Photo Credit: @gregoryshamus) pic.twitter.com/3JoQT36CTY — Erik Schlitt (@erikschlitt) November 28, 2019

Hockenson was injured while making a 1-yard catch along the Lions’ sideline in the final minute of the game. He crawled to the sideline, then remained on the ground as doctors examined him while Detroit tried to mount a late comeback against Chicago.

But David Blough couldn’t find Danny Amendola inside the 10-yard line, then took a sack before throwing an interception that ended the game. Now focus turns to the health of the eighth overall pick in this year’s draft.

Hockenson went wild in Arizona to open the season, ripping the Cardinals for 131 yards, a record debut for a tight end. It looked like he might avoid the sort of struggles that plague most first-year players at the position. And then those struggles began to set in.

He had just one catch each of the next two weeks, and has combined for just 236 yards in the 11 games since. He had no catches at all last week in Washington, then turned a team-high 11 targets into just six catches for 18 yards on Thursday against Chicago.

Hockenson clearly has the ability to produce at this level, but has lacked consistency in his rookie season, as most first-tight ends do. Expectations for him will grow in Year 2 as he begins to learn the nuances of the position and build out his strength.