The Detroit Lions are gathering for a wave of voluntary OTA workouts this week. Some of the new players they’ve acquired this offseason including cornerback DJ Reed and first-round pick Tyleik Williams will get their first taste of life as a Lion and will look to help the team get over the hump and reach the Super Bowl next season.
While some Lions are getting their first experience with their new team, those that have left Detroit are feeling the same thing. One former Lion that already has a starting job locked up after signing in free agency has taken advantage of the voluntary part of offseason workouts and is skipping OTAs as he prepares for minicamp.
Ex-Lions Guard Kevin Zeitler Skipping OTAs with Titans
Kevin Zeitler signed with the Tennessee Titans over the offseason, but it appears he’s taking a little longer before meeting his new team. Zeitler was one of four players who was absent from the third phase of Titans OTA workouts but it may have more to do with letting his body recover than any ill will from the team that just paid him.
Zeitler is entering his 14th season in the NFL which has included time with the Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, New York Giants and Baltimore Ravens. His most recent stop was in Detroit as he played 16 games at right guard to help the Lions rack up a NFC-best 15-2 record.
The 35-year-old wasn’t just along for the ride either. His 86.5 PFF grade was the highest mark since he posted an 89.1 grade with the Bengals in 2014 and he allowed 18 pressures and five sacks on 577 pass blocking snaps according to Pro Football Focus.
While Zeitler was deserving of the one-year, $9 million contract he received from the Titans, the Lions went in a younger direction selecting Georgia’s Tate Ratledge in the second round and LSU’s MIles Frazier if the fifth round of last month’s draft. It’s also possible that Zeitler is pacing himself as he enters his mid-30s just like fellow new Titan Tyler Lockett is skipping OTAs.
Whatever break Zeitler is taking, it’s well-deserved and he’ll look to hit the ground running when the Titans host mandatory minicamp next month.