Shane Zylstra
TE
#84
Experience: 5 years
Height: 6-4
Age: 28
Weight: 244 lbs
College: Minnesota State
2024 SEASON
-
REC1
-
YDS22
-
AVG22
-
TDS0
Receiving
| YEAR | TEAM | G | REC | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD | 1st | 1st% | 20+ | 40+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 29 | 15 | 116 | 7.7 | 22 | 4 | 9 | 60 | 1 | 0 |
Kick Return
| YEAR | TEAM | G | RET | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD | 20+ | 40+ | FC | FUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Detroit Lions | 12 | |||||||||
| 2022 | Detroit Lions | 13 | 2 | 46 | 23 | 26 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | Detroit Lions | 4 | |||||||||
| TOTAL | 29 | 2 | 46 | 23 | 26 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense
| YEAR | TEAM | G | Total | Solo | AST | SCK | SFTY | PDEF | INT | TDS | YDS | AVG | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Detroit Lions | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| 2022 | Detroit Lions | 13 | |||||||||||
| 2021 | Detroit Lions | 4 | |||||||||||
| TOTAL | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Biography
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- Became only the second tight end in franchise history to produce a three-touchdown game in Week 16 at Carolina (12/24/22), joining Joseph Fauria, who did so on Oct. 13, 2013 at Cleveland.
- Caught one reception for one yard (1.0 avg.) and one touchdown, the first of his career in Week 9 vs. Green Bay (11/6/22).
- Joined the Lions' practice squad after signing with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted rookie free agent following the 2021 NFL Draft.
- Recorded three receptions for 34 yards (11.3 avg.) in his debut season in 2021.
COLLEGE
- Played four seasons (2016-19) at Minnesota State-Mankato as a wide receiver, ending his career as the Mavericks' leader in receptions (227), receiving yards (4,297) and receiving touchdowns (54). His 330 career points rank third-best in MSU history.
- 2019: Started in all 15 games and led the receiving corps with 81 catches for 1,676 yards and 18 touchdowns, all of which set MSU single-season records.
- Named to the All-NSIC First Team and NSIC All-Academic Team, CoSIDA Academic All-American Second Team, D2CCA All-Super Region First Team and Don Hansen All-Super Region Third Team.
- 2018: Started all 14 games and recorded 66 catches for 1,261 yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging 90.1 receiving yards a game.
- Named to the All-NSIC First Team and the AFCA All-American Second Team.
- 2017: Started all 14 games and led the receiver room with 51 catches for 861 yards and 15 touchdowns, the most touchdown catches in MSU single-season history.
- Received D2CCA All-Super Region First Team honors and Don Hansen All-Super Region Second Team recognition.
- 2016: Played in all 11 games for the Mavericks and finished second on the team in receiving yards with 499 on 29 receptions and seven touchdown catches.
- 2015: Redshirted
PERSONAL
- Attended New London-Spice (Spicer, Minn.) High School where he started two seasons as a wide receiver and the team's kick and punt returner. Registered a school-record 94 receptions for 1,531 yards (16.3 avg.) and 17 touchdowns.
- Named Two-Time All-Conference, Two-Time All-Area and Second-Team All-State in football alongside All-State honors as a member of the track and field team in long jump and high jump.
- Older brother, Brandon, spent time on the Lions' practice squad in 2022.
- Earned his bachelor degree from Minnesota State in biology.
- Married to his wife, Gabriel, and has two sons, Brooks and Decker.