Shane Zylstra
TE
#80
Experience: 5 years
Height: 6-3
Age: 29
Weight: 245 lbs
College: Minnesota State
Receiving
| YEAR | TEAM | G | REC | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD | 1st | 1st% | 20+ | 40+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Detroit Lions | 6 | 3 | 20 | 6.7 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 33.3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | Detroit Lions | 12 | 1 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 0 | 1 | 100 | 1 | 0 |
| 2022 | Detroit Lions | 13 | 11 | 60 | 5.4 | 14 | 4 | 6 | 54.6 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | Detroit Lions | 4 | 3 | 34 | 11.3 | 16 | 0 | 2 | 66.7 | 0 | 0 |
| TOTAL | 35 | 18 | 136 | 7.6 | 22 | 4 | 10 | 55.6 | 1 | 0 |
Kick Return
| YEAR | TEAM | G | RET | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD | 20+ | 40+ | FC | FUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Detroit Lions | 6 | |||||||||
| 2024 | Detroit Lions | 12 | |||||||||
| 2022 | Detroit Lions | 13 | 2 | 46 | 23 | 26 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | Detroit Lions | 4 | |||||||||
| TOTAL | 35 | 2 | 46 | 23 | 26 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense
| YEAR | TEAM | G | Total | Solo | AST | SCK | SFTY | PDEF | INT | TDS | YDS | AVG | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Detroit Lions | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| 2024 | Detroit Lions | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| 2022 | Detroit Lions | 13 | |||||||||||
| 2021 | Detroit Lions | 4 | |||||||||||
| TOTAL | 35 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Biography
Zylstra, 29, originally entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with the Minnesota Vikings in 2021 out of Minnesota State-Mankato. The 6-foot-3, 245-pounder, joined the Detroit Lions practice squad after being released by Minnesota prior to the start of the 2021 season. He has spent time on the practice squad and the 53-man roster during his four seasons with the Lions. Overall, he has played in 35 games with six starts and has 18 receptions for 136 yards and 4 touchdowns. Zylstra was signed by the Buffalo Bills as an unrestricted free agent on May 12, 2026, but was released on Aug. 29, 2026.