ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Eric Ebron hasn't played 16 games in a season in the NFL. He's shown the potential of a high-level tight end when he's been healthy, but he knows his health has been an issue.

It's why playing 16 games for the Detroit Lions is a goal for him -- one he plans to reach. Ebron knows by now he can't completely prevent injuries and that, yeah, at some point he'll probably play hurt. It's happened before. It'll happen again. It's football.

But he understands what playing a full season would mean -- both for himself and how the former No. 10 pick in the 2014 NFL draft is viewed as a player.

"If I can get a full 16 games, man, there'd be a lot less hate on me and the things that I do," Ebron said. "I plan on it this year. I'm praying for it. I need it. I want it. So that I can fulfill my goals and things that I want to do in football."

Playing a full 16 games would also help him reach his next set of goals. At the end of last season, Ebron told ESPN that a 1,000-yard season was a goal for 2017. That's something he could realistically hit if he can play a full season considering the career-best 61 catches and 711 yards he had in 13 games last season (really 12 -- he hobbled through a loss to the Bears).

There should be more chances for him in Detroit's offense, too, with the departure of slot receiver Anquan Boldin. That should open up more red zone looks and potentially more targets for Ebron. He said it'll take more than one player to replace what Boldin brought to Detroit, but Ebron will be counted on to replace some of that production, particularly near the end zone.

On Thursday, Lions offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter said Ebron's role will "sort of define itself as the year goes." But if Ebron is used how he thinks he might be used, he has a chance to reach another lofty goal.

"There's one thing I made a promise to my family and to myself is that I’m going to do my best to make it to the Pro Bowl this year," Ebron said. "Because I feel like I'm capable of it. I feel like if I do have three more games under my belt and a full 16-game season, I don't see no reason why I can't be.

"So I have high expectations and that's one of my expectations, one of the things I really want to accomplish. Just looking forward to that."