The third week of NFL free agency is here, and several former Detroit Lions have yet to find a home for the 2026 season. It's safe to say that the offseason isn't unfolding as some veterans had hoped, and that includes ex-Lions tight end Shane Zylstra.
Even though he isn't the biggest needle-mover, Zylstra always seemed like a candidate to return to Detroit. The former wideout-turned-TE has been with the Lions ever since joining their practice squad in September 2021, and it's the relationship he fostered with the team (and quarterback Jared Goff) during his tenure that has resulted in five consecutive one-year contracts, according to Spotrac.
In other words, nobody would've second-guessed general manager Brad Holmes if he repeated history and brought Zylstra back on another one-year contract to compete in training camp. That hasn't happened yet, though, and judging by where we are in March, a potential return is likely out of the question.
Book Is Officially Closed on Shane Zylstra's Time with Lions
It's no secret that the tight end room was a concern when the Lions entered the offseason.
Star TE Sam LaPorta's 2025 campaign ended with a back injury, and there's no telling if he'll return to form ahead of a contract year. Throw in the fact that backup TEs Brock Wright, Anthony Firkser, Ross Dwelley, and Giovanni Ricci failed to step up in his absence, and the Lions' need for tight end help suddenly makes more sense.
While bringing back a familiar face like Zylstra would've made sense on paper, the Lions opted to sign free-agent TE Tyler Conklin instead. An eight-year veteran, Conklin has 92 more games of experience than Zylstra, all while making 270 catches for 2,645 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. For comparison, the latter owns an 18-136-4 stat line in 35 career appearances.
Of course, being a tight end means doing more than just catching balls. Although not primarily known as a blocker, Conklin has proven to be a solid protector when needed. This is proven by his recording a Pro Football Focus pass-block grade of 73.6 or better in the last two seasons, going 35 opportunities without allowing a pressure.
For comparison, Zylstra allowed three pressures — including a sack — across 18 opportunities last season, leading to a 42.6 pass-grade on PFF.
Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen
With LaPorta eventually returning to full health and Conklin joining Wright as the primary backup TEs, it's hard to imagine a path for Zylstra to return to Detroit. That's without mentioning the Lions also signed former Chicago Bears TE Thomas Gordon to a futures deal in January, or that the 6-foot-4 Zach Horton is also returning and will likely be hungry after seeing only 11 offensive snaps in two games last season.
In other words, the Lions likely won't add any other TEs unless that happens through the 2026 NFL draft next month. Even then, that selection likely wouldn't happen until Day 3, as there's plenty of reason to believe LaPorta can still be a star as long as Conklin and Wright give him proper support.
After five seasons in the Motor City, Zylstra is who he is at this point, and the Lions know they aren't losing much in terms of an on-field impact by turning the page. That isn't to say that there isn't plenty of runway remaining in the former Minnesota State TE's career — it just means he'll have to prove to another team why Detroit kept bringing him back year after year.
Until this offseason, that is.