SHANE ZYLSTRA NEWS

Staying in Motor City Detroit will re-sign Zylstra for the 2025 season, Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com reports.

Impact The Lions added Zylstra to the active roster from their practice squad in November of 2024, and over 13 games including the playoffs, he caught his only target for 22 yards. He also contributed on special teams, logging more snaps in that phase than on offense for the first time in his career. Barring injuries, his role on Detroit's offense is likely to be minor in 2025.

MARCH 18 • ROTOWIRE

Quiet 2024 campaign Zylstra finished the 2024 regular season having caught his only target for 22 yards over 10 games.

Impact Zylstra was virtually non-existent on the offensive side of the ball in 2024, operating as the No. 3 tight end behind Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright. Zylstra's only catch came in Week 11 against the Jaguars when LaPorta didn't play due to a shoulder injury. Zylstra will enter the offseason as a restricted free agent, meaning the Lions will have the ability to match any offer put in front of him by another team.

JANUARY 27 • ROTOWIRE

Cleared from injury report Zylstra (neck) was listed as a full participant on Wednesday's practice estimate.

Impact Zylstra left Sunday's win over the Jaguars early with the injury, but it doesn't appear the tight end is suffering any lasting effects from it. Barring any setbacks, he should be good to go Week 12 against the Colts.

NOVEMBER 20, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Sustains neck injury vs. Jags Zylstra exited Sunday's 52-6 win over the Jaguars due to a neck injury.

Impact The injury occurred late in the fourth quarter of Sunday's game, and given the blowout, there was no reason to risk having Zylstra on the field. The severity of Zylsta's neck injury may not truly be known until the Lions' first practice Wednesday.

NOVEMBER 17, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Helping fill in for LaPorta Zylstra and Brock Wright will take on larger roles with starting tight end Sam LaPorta (shoulder) ruled out for Sunday's game against Jacksonville, the Lansing State Journal report...

Impact Zylstra had a three-TD performance Week 16 of 2022, but he's seen just three targets in the NFL since then, and none this season. He did take five of the 14 snaps in 11 personnel after LaPorta left a Week 10 win over Houston, with Wright getting the other nine snaps and also finishing without a target. Wright is the favorite to Detroit's tight ends in snaps and routes this week, but Zylstra also figures to play more than usual, including some work in single-TE formations.

NOVEMBER 15, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

THE DAILY DRIVE: Lions make 7 roster moves ahead of Texans game, including signing Shane Zylstra Za'Darius Smith's time off a reminder of how much Detroit Lions culture has changed

NOVEMBER 10, 2024 • DETROITLIONS.COM

Signed to active roster The Lions signed Zylstra from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday.

Impact Zylstra was elevated from the practice squad for the maximum three times this season, and he'll continue to play in Detroit after being signed to the active roster. Zylstra will serve as the Lions' No. 3 tight end Sunday against the Texans behind Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright.

NOVEMBER 10, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Reverts to practice squad Zylstra reverted to Detroit's practice squad Monday.

Impact Zylstra played exclusively on special teams during Sunday's win versus Green Bay. He has now been elevated three times this season and would need to be signed to the active roster in order to be eligible to play again.

NOVEMBER 5, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Elevated for Week 9 The Lions elevated Zylstra from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday.

Impact This is the third and final time that the Lions can elevate Zylstra from the practice squad this season. He'll serve as Detroit's No. 3 tight end Sunday against the Packers behind starter Sam LaPorta and backup Brock Wright.

NOVEMBER 3, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Back with practice squad Zylstra reverted to the Lions' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's official transaction log.

Impact Zylstra operated as the Lions' No. 3 option at tight end behind Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright in the team's 52-14 win over the Titans in Week 8, failing to record any offensive stats while playing 13 of the team's 48 snaps on that side of the ball. He did record a tackle in punt coverage while playing 20 snaps with the special-teams unit. Zylstra can still be elevated one more time before he'd have to be officially signed to the active roster.

OCTOBER 29, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Elevated from practice squad The Lions elevated Zylstra from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday.

Impact Zylstra is being elevated for a second consecutive week, giving him an opportunity to suit up and handle a depth role Sunday versus Tennessee. He played three offensive snaps Week 7 versus the Vikings and was not targeted.

OCTOBER 26, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Reverts to practice squad Zylstra reverted to Detroit's practice squad Monday.

Impact Zylstra was elevated to the active roster for the first time this season, and he ended up seeing playing time on both offense and special teams but failed to record any stats. The 27-year-old will now wait for his next opportunity to be called up for a game.

OCTOBER 22, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Elevated for Week 7 The Lions elevated Zylstra from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday.

Impact Zylstra was unable to make the Lions' 53-man roster at the conclusion of training camp, but he opted to stick around on the practice squad. It's his first elevation of the season, though he will likely only see the field on special teams as he serves as the No. 4 tight end behind Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright and Parker Hesse. If Zylstra does see playing time Sunday against the Vikings, it'll be his first regular-season action since 2022, during which he caught 11 passes (on 15 targets) for 60 yards and four touchdowns over 13 games.

OCTOBER 19, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Returns to Detroit Zylstra signed with the Lions' practice squad Wednesday.

Impact After missing all of the Lions' 2023 campaign due to a knee injury, Zylstra was left off Detroit's initial 53-man roster. However, he'll remain in Detroit after inking a deal to return to the team's practice squad Wednesday. The Minnesota State product could be elevated to the Lions' active roster at some point this season if one of Sam LaPorta (hamstring), Brock Wright or Parker Hesse misses time.

AUGUST 29, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Dropped by Detroit The Lions waived Zylstra on Monday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Impact Zylstra missed all of 2023 due to a knee injury, and Detroit has now decided to part ways with the 27-year-old. He appeared in 13 regular-season games for the Lions in 2022, catching 11 of his 15 targets for 60 yards and four touchdowns.

AUGUST 26, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Ends season with whimper Zylstra played 22 of the Lions' 60 snaps on offense and failed to haul in his lone target in Sunday's 20-16 win over the Packers.

Impact After a big three-touchdown outing in the Lions' Week 16 loss to the Panthers, Zylstra was unable to carry that momentum into Detroit's final two games of the season. Between wins over Chicago and Green Bay to close out the campaign, Zylstra recorded one catch for seven yards on three targets. The 26-year-old ultimately tallied 11 receptions for 60 yards and four touchdowns on 15 targets over his 13 appearances this season, and though those numbers put him roughly on par with Brock Wright as Detroit's most productive tight end for fantasy purposes after T.J. Hockenson was traded to Minnesota in November, neither Zylstra nor Wright will likely be promised major roles if both are back with Detroit in 2023. Expect Detroit to explore the free-agent market or the draft this offseason to bring aboard a more-established or higher-upside option to its tight-end room.

JANUARY 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Completes hat trick Zylstra brought in five of six targets for 26 yards with three touchdowns during Saturday's 37-23 loss to Carolina.

Impact Becoming a bigger and bigger part of the passing game in every passing week since Detroit traded T.J. Hockenson, Zylstra was largely used on short routes Saturday -- particularly near the goal line. However, this marked Zylstra's first game of the season with more than two targets, and he's averaging just over five yards per catch on his 10 receptions this season. Despite the big day, Zylstra is not on the fantasy radar in Week 17 against Chicago.

DECEMBER 24, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

HIGHLIGHT: Goff's fourth-down throw finds Zylstra for TE's second TD of day Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff's fourth-down throw finds Detroit Lions tight end Shane Zylstra for his second touchdown of the day.

DECEMBER 24, 2022 • DETROITLIONS.COM

HIGHLIGHT: Goff to Zylstra for a 3-yard TD Detroit Lions quarterback Goff and Lions tight end Shane Zylstra counter the Carolina Panthers' first-drive touchdown with one of their own.

DECEMBER 24, 2022 • DETROITLIONS.COM

Records two catches in Week 14 win Zylstra played 23 of the Lions' 68 snaps on offense and finished with two receptions for 18 yards on two targets in Sunday's 34-23 win over the Vikings.

Impact Though Brock Wright led the Detroit tight-end room with a 56 percent snap share, Zylstra led the position group in production. Zylstra has four receptions for 23 yards and a touchdown over his nine appearances on the season and is unlikely to see more than a look or two in the passing attack while Detroit has all of its key receivers and running backs available.

DECEMBER 14, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Gets promotion to 53-man roster Detroit signed Zylstra from its practice squad to the active roster Saturday ahead of Sunday's game at Chicago.

Impact After he caught a touchdown in Week 9, Zylstra was added to the 53-man roster for good ahead of Week 10. When the Lions traded away T.J. Hockenson, Zylstra became arguably the team's best remaining receiving threat at tight end.

NOVEMBER 12, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Detroit Lions activate FB Jason Cabinda, promote TE Shane Zylstra from practice squad The Detroit Lions promoted tight end Shane Zylstra from the practice squad and activated fullback/tight end Jason Cabinda from the PUP list.

NOVEMBER 12, 2022 • FREEP.COM

Shane Zylstra relishes celebrating his 1st NFL touchdown with brother Brandon on the Lions sideline Shane and Brandon Zylstra are the 1st brothers to play offense together in the same game in Lions team history

NOVEMBER 8, 2022 • USATODAY.COM

Sent back to practice squad Detroit reverted Zylstra to its practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.

Impact Zylstra was summoned to the active roster ahead of the Week 9 win over the Packers and played five special-teams snaps as well as 16 of a possible 62 offensive snaps. That put him well behind Brock Wright's 50 snaps but ahead of James Mitchell's 13. Zylstra made the most of his one target Sunday, hauling in a one-yard touchdown in the second quarter. With T.J. Hockenson now with Minnesota, it wouldn't be surprising to see Zylstra be elevated again for Week 10.

NOVEMBER 7, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Lions' season still appears lost despite win over Packers

The Detroit Lions’ season has followed the usual script

NOVEMBER 7, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS