After a rocky start to his fourth NFL season tight end Eric Ebron became a father, and his own rebirth in Detroit seemingly followed.
It was Week 5 of the 2017 NFL season, Ford Field was electric as the Detroit Lions took on the Carolina Panthers. The quote “It’s always darkest before dawn” fits well in hindsight for tight end Eric Ebron when thinking back to this game.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford and the offense marched down the field and were threatening to score on the games opening drive. Stafford fired a shot into the end zone that appeared to hit tight end Eric Ebron right in the chest. He was unable to complete the catch and the Lions had to settle for a field goal.
Immediately Ford Field erupted, booing the tight end who had developed somewhat of a reputation for drops. When looking back on that play, Stafford tried to thread the needle between two defenders to get to Ebron. Even he admitted after the game that it wasn’t his best ball.
But fans had already made up their minds. Ebron was to blame, after-all if Ebron would have caught that touchdown pass on the first drive the Lions would have defeated the Panthers 28-27. That way of thinking isn’t fair to Ebron as their are tons of plays throughout a game that could have created a different outcome.
The fourth-year tight end expressed his feelings towards the way fans reacted towards his performance that day.
Some of you wouldn’t know the half. Boooo me all u want but pay attention to the whole picture #StayWoke
— Ebron85.chimp (@Ebron85) October 8, 2017
A couple weeks later though a life changing event occurred for Ebron during the Lions bye-week. The 24 year-old became a father.
The following Sunday the Pittsburgh Steelers came to the Motor City and beat the Lions in a disappointing 20-15 loss. One of the positive takeaways from the game was Ebron. He only had two receptions but those two receptions went for 58-yards.
The tides began to turn. Ebron seemed to be Stafford’s go-to target on third down in the weeks that followed. The once boo’d tight end had more and more fans singing his praises week after week.
Ebron ended the season with a career high 86 targets for 574 yards. He averaged 10.4 yards per reception and ended the season with four touchdowns.
In the second half of the season he went from the bottom of the league in tight end rankings to the very top. Ebron ranked fourth among tight ends in both total yards (472) and receptions (40). He was seventh in touchdowns (3) and third in receptions of 25 yards-or-more (5).
Ebron will be back in Detroit next year likely under a new contract. He definitely made himself some money the last seven weeks of the season.
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From a player that was on the trading block, to one of the top contributors for the team. Eric Ebron had a phenomenal second half and I look forward to seeing him comeback next season and continue to grow. He definitely got a little more criticism than he deserved at points of his career, even when he wasn’t necessarily to blame. So it’s time we give him his props that he’s earned.
So the Detroit Lions comeback player of the year award goes to tight end Eric Ebron. Keep grinding young man, we’re all cheering for you.