Lions' Shane Zylstra: No targets in return to action
Rotowire
Zylstra didn't draw a target in Sunday's 41-34 loss to the Rams.
Zylstra made his return to action after missing 11 contests with a knee injury, immediately taking over as the team's primary tight end, logging 35 offensive snaps to backup Anthony Firkser's 22 snaps on offense. Zylstra will have a chance to be more involved moving forward with Sam LaPorta (back) and Brock Wright (neck) on injured reserve, and he'll look to reel in his first pass of the year in Week 16 against Pittsburgh.
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Lions' Shane Zylstra: Returns to limited practice
Rotowire
Zylstra (knee) logged a limited practice Wednesday.
Zylstra is working his way back from a knee injury that has held him out since Week 3. He began last week with a similar limited practice before downgrading to no practice, so his progression this week should give an indication of whether he'll be able to return to the field in Week 15 against the Rams.
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Lions' Shane Zylstra: Won't play Thursday
Rotowire
Zylstra (knee) has been ruled out for Thursday's game versus the Cowboys.
Zylstra has been on injured reserve since getting hurt in Week 2 against the Bears, and he finally returned to practice Monday. The 29-year-old tight end isn't quite ready to return to action, however, and he'll aim to get back in the mix in Week 15 versus the Rams. Last season, Zylstra averaged just 9.0 offensive snaps per game.
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Lions' Shane Zylstra: Downgrades to DNP on Tuesday
Rotowire
Zylstra (knee) did not participate at practice Tuesday.
It's a somewhat concerning sign for Zylstra, who Detroit just designated for return to practice from its injured reserve list Monday. It's looking increasingly unlikely he'll be able to suit up Thursday versus the Cowboys.
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Lions' Shane Zylstra: Will not return Sunday
Rotowire
Zylstra (ankle) is out for the remainder of Sunday's game against the Bears.
The tight end did not record a stat before exiting earlier in the first half. Detroit still has two tight ends, Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright, ahead of Zylstra on the depth chart.
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Lions' Shane Zylstra: Staying in Motor City
Rotowire
Detroit will re-sign Zylstra for the 2025 season, Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com reports.
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.
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Lions' Shane Zylstra: Sustains neck injury vs. Jags
Rotowire
Zylstra exited Sunday's 52-6 win over the Jaguars due to a neck injury.
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.
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Lions' Shane Zylstra: Signed to active roster
Rotowire
The Lions signed Zylstra from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday.
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.
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Shane Zylstra: Reverts to practice squad
Rotowire
Zylstra reverted to Detroit's practice squad Monday.
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.
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Lions' Shane Zylstra: Elevated for Week 9
Rotowire
The Lions elevated Zylstra from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday.
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.
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Lions' Shane Zylstra: Elevated from practice squad
Rotowire
The Lions elevated Zylstra from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday.
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.
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Shane Zylstra: Dropped by Detroit
Rotowire
The Lions waived Zylstra on Monday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
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.
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Lions' Shane Zylstra: Stays in Detroit
Rotowire
Zylstra (knee) re-signed with the Lions on Monday.
Zylstra spent the entirety of the 2023 campaign on IR with a knee injury suffered during training camp, but he should be considered healthy with his return to the team. The 27-year-old last suited up in 2022, when he made 11 receptions (on 15 targets) for 60 yards and four touchdowns across 13 contests. He'll likely be competing for a depth role in the Lions' tight end corps in 2024.
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Shane Zylstra: Waived with injury designation
Rotowire
The Lions waived Zylstra (knee) on Tuesday with an injury designation.
If Zylstra clears waivers, he'll revert to the Lions' injured reserve and be forced to miss the entire 2023 campaign barring an injury settlement. The 26-year-old is expected to be sidelined for at least six months due to the knee injury, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
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Lions' Shane Zylstra: Inks deal with Detroit
Rotowire
The Lions re-signed Zylstra, who was an exclusive rights free agent, on Monday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Zylstra and Brock Wright both saw increased work last year after Detroit traded T.J. Hockenson to the Vikings. The Minnesota State product finished with 11 receptions on 15 targets for 60 yards and four touchdowns in 2022, his second season with the Lions. Zylstra and Wright will be back next season and currently sit atop the Lions' tight end depth chart, but things could change quickly after the 2023 NFL Draft.
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Lions' Shane Zylstra: Completes hat trick
Rotowire
Zylstra brought in five of six targets for 26 yards with three touchdowns during Saturday's 37-23 loss to Carolina.
Becoming a bigger and bigger part of the passing game in every passing week since Detroit traded T.J. Hockenson, Zylstra was again 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 probably not on the fantasy radar in Week 17 against Chicago.
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Lions' Shane Zylstra: Back on active roster
Rotowire
Zylstra was elevated from Detroit's practice squad to the active roster ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Dolphins.
Zylstra will be on the Lions' active roster for the first time since Week 3. He has served primarily on special teams in three contests this season, though he may see a slight uptick in offensive role in the absence of T.J. Hockenson.
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Shane Zylstra: Inks practice-squad deal
Rotowire
The Lions signed Zylstra to the practice squad Tuesday.
Zylstra appeared in each of the first three games of the season but didn't record a single offensive statistic. He was waived by Detroit ahead of the team's Week 4 loss to the Seahawks, but he's been brought back on a practice-squad deal. The 6-foot-4 tight end will be a likely candidate to be elevated on a weekly basis, but he'd presumably be relegated to primarily special-team duties.
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Shane Zylstra: Waived by Lions
Rotowire
Zylstra was waived by Detroit on Saturday.
Zylstra was active for each of Detroit's first three games but didn't log an offensive statistic. He was on the field for a significant number of snaps on special teams, which could help him find another opportunity around the league.
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Lions' Shane Zylstra: Won't return Sunday
Rotowire
Zylstra (knee) has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's contest against the Falcons.
Zylstra was added to the active roster as a COVID-19 replacement. However, he failed to a catch a pass for a third consecutive week after leaving the contest early with a knee injury. His absence leaves the Lions with Brock Wright as their only available tight end.
