With the health of Sam LaPorta uncertain after spinal disc surgery, the Lions will want to have some young, healthy backup TE’s available. The latest addition is Miles Kitselman, who the Lions signed as an undrafted free agent (UDFA).

His excellent size at 6’ 5 1/8” and 251 lbs and his respectable 4.90 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine give him the opportunity to make an impact in the Lions TE room. However, he will need to overcome a couple medical concerns from 2025.

Below is the medical report for Miles Kitselman. For a full breakdown of the 2026 rookie class, visit my Lions 2026 Rookies page.

Medical concern level ranges from 0 (no concern) to 10 (extreme).

(Ages in parentheses are at start of 2026 season and are factored into the concern level. Injury info and ages based on available public information and are unverified - subject to update. Games played data courtesy of sports-reference.com.)

Miles Kitselman, TE (23) - Tennessee

Medical Concern Level: 4/10

2025: 11/13 games. Pec surgery in March 2025, able to recover for start of season. Possible knee injury, missed final 2 regular-season games but able to return for bowl.
2024: 13/13 games
2023: 13/14 games. Opted out of bowl due to transfer.
2022: 6 games

The pec surgery is a significant injury, but his recovery was expedient and he has a full year of proof of recovery afterwards.

The knee injury in his final season was only a short-term issue but warrants further investigation. The mechanism of injury was a contact injury which makes something like an MCL sprain a possibility. If it’s an MCL, that’s an injury that generally heals well as long as there is no associated cartilage damage.

Overall, Kitselman was mostly reliable in his final three years of college, having missed only two games. His age is slightly older than ideal, but is fine for a UDFA.

He finished college with 50 receptions for 572 yards.

For the latest Sam LaPorta analysis…

Jimmy Liao MD | Detroit Lions Morning Rounds

Lions 2026 UDFA: Miles Kitselman, TE