Report: Shane Zylstra Expected to Miss Six Months with 'Serious' Knee Injury

Unfortunate injury update for Lions tight end Shane Zylstra.

The Detroit Lions are likely going to be without tight end Shane Zylstra for the next six months. NFL Media is reporting that the 26-year-old suffered a "serious" knee injury at training camp practice Monday. 

He was waived Tuesday, and will revert back to injured reserve after clearing waivers. 

On Day 8 of Lions training camp, cornerback Khalil Dorsey brought the 6-foot-4, 240-pound tight end down with a below-the-waist tackle. 

The scene was somber, as Zylstra was helped up and then gingerly walked off the field. 

“We were supposed to have another period and he (Dan Campbell) goes, 'Two-minute,'" Amon-Ra St. Brown said, via the Free Press.  "I go, 'What? We have another period of live,' which I wanted cause I had that one drop."

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Rookie tight end Sam LaPorta also did not finish practice Monday. 

"It’s a position that, if you cannot block and deal with the physicality, then in our offense, the value goes down," said Johnson, when asked about his expectations for the tight ends room when padded practices begin. "Tight ends that can’t block really are glorified receivers, and that’s really a lot of Sam (LaPorta)’s value that he had at Iowa, was the ability to do both: be a pass-catcher and also a run-blocker. So, looking forward to see that versatility come to life, when we do get the pads on.”

James Mitchell and Brock Wright were in competition with Zylstra for reps and targets in Ben Johnson's offense. 

Detroit's third-year head coach will update the team's injury situation on Wednesday, following a scheduled players day off. 

#Lions TE Shane Zylstra is believed to have suffered a serious and significant knee injury, sources say. He’ll have more tests, but there isn’t a lot of optimism. Zylstra burst into the national spotlight last year with 3 TDs vs the #Panthers. Now expected to miss 6 months. pic.twitter.com/rJ8kZW3orh

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 31, 2023

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