Heading into free agency, the Detroit Lions have an abundance of talent in their tight room. They have Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, Zach Horton, and Thomas Gordon all under contract for the 2026 season. Horton and Gordon were inked to future deals, giving them a shot to compete for a spot on the 53-man roster this offseason.
We didn’t mention unrestricted free agents Shane Zylstra and Anthony Firkser, who couldreturn to the Motor City this offseason. With the Lions hiring new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing last month, who featured the tight end position during his three-year stint in Arizona, it’s only right that the Lions have the depth at that position.
However, just because the Lions currently have depth doesn’t mean that they should stop them from adding better talent in free agency or the NFL draft. And if that happens, Zylstra's chances of returning to Detroit will get slimmer.
Shane Zylstra’s Time in Detroit Could Be Over in a Matter of Weeks
The 29-year-old tight end doesn’t get the same attention as LaPorta, who has become one of the league's better tight ends. However, Zylstra has been a fixture within Detroit’s offense as its TE3 over the years.
The veteran tight end didn’t play much in his first year in 2021 (four games) as an undrafted free agent out of Minnesota State. That said, the fact that Zylstra was on the Lions’ practice squad as an UDFA was impressive for a guy from a small school, though.
In his second year with the club, the former Minnesota State standout got more playing time (12 games), splitting time between offense and special teams. Coincidentally, that was his best year as a pass catcher, racking up 11 receptions (15 targets) for 60 yards and four touchdowns.
It's rare for a third TE to get one touchdown, let alone four, considering that the Lions also had Wright and T.J. Hockenson. However, the Lions traded Hockenson to the Minnesota Vikings, opening up more opportunities for Zylstra.
Over the last two seasons, Zylstra has appeared in 18 games, including six in 2025. However, a knee injury sustained during the first month of the 2025 campaign sidelined Zylstra for most of this past season.
His return in the final month of the season was right on time, as LaPorta and Wright were both out with injuries. But Zylstra didn’t make a huge impact, recording three receptions (five targets) for 20 yards. He played 57.5 percent of offensive snaps and 50 percent of special teams snaps in the final four games of the season.
That being said, is there a world in which Zylstra returns this offseason? Without a doubt. He’s familiar with Campbell and can play special teams, making him an ideal piece to continue with if all things were equal.
But looking at the Lions’ depth chart before NFL free agency, it's unlikely. Campbell could slide Horton or Gordon into Zylstra’s role. Horton was signed as an undrafted free agent, didn’t make the 53-man roster, but was quickly signed to the practice squad. He appeared in two games this past season and was given a reserve deal. There is something there that the coaching staff and front office want to see more of.
If you’re Lions GM Brad Holmes and Campbell, it might be best to go in a younger direction at TE3. But the Lions also know they could run it back with Zylstra, who likely won’t have a huge free agency market. One way or another, it will be an interesting story to follow in the coming weeks.