(Photo: Daniel Mears, Detroit News)
Allen Park — As if expectations for Detroit Lions tight end T.J. Hockenson weren’t lofty enough after being selected No. 8 in last month's NFL Draft, the former Iowa standout now carries the added weight of shouldering the legacy of No. 88 in Detroit.
That's the same number once worn by Hall of Famer Charlie Sanders.
NFL uniform guidelines prohibited Hockenson from wearing the No. 38 he sported in college. And with four to the 10 possible choices already taken, the rookie settled for the number formerly worn by Sanders.