Brandon

Zylstra

Zylstra, 29, caught a career-best 18 passes for 250 yards and one touchdown last season in Carolina and was re-signed to a one-year deal. But with the additions of Rashard Higgins and Laviska Shenault this year, Zylstra is squeezed out of a roster spot.

Zylstra was a surprisingly large part of the Panthers’ offense last season, playing ahead of second-round rookie Terrace Marshall when he was healthy. He will compete for a similar role in camp, but the Panthers should probably be aiming higher for their No. 3 receiver spot. New signing Rashard Higgins is probably that person.

Zylstra was competing with Terrace Marshall in Carolina’s slot role prior to injury, totaling 8/139/1 in five appearances to start the year. He will take the place of either Keith Kirkwood or Alex Erickson on the active roster in Week 10.

Panthers beat reports have noted that Marshall will likely be down on Sunday with this news. Not a single Carolina receiver besides Robby Anderson and D.J. Moore cracked three targets against Minnesota last Sunday and Marshall’s absence is an underrated problem for the team’s sudden problems in the passing game. Brandon Zylstra, who led the other wideouts with a 49% snap share in Week 7, was just sent to injured reserve.

It’s a significant absence since Zylstra usurped Terrace Marshall from the slot in Week 6, running a route on a season-high 69% of Sam Darnold’s dropbacks between D.J. Moore and Robby Anderson. Zylstra actually ran 16 more routes than Marshall (29-13) in all as the latter, again thrust into three-wide sets, has meandered for eight total targets and 4/25 receiving in three games without Christian McCaffrey and Dan Arnold this year. He’ll continue to play that role for Carolina without Zylstra in the interim.

The one-time CFL standout played all 16 games last season as a special teamer for Carolina. Zylstra has played 24 games over two seasons in Carolina, making 11 receptions for 141 yards while rushing one time for one yard. Zylstra, who led the CFL with 1,687 receiving yards in 2017, makes for a decent backup wideout.

The 2016 UDFA and ex-CFLer entered Week 17 with 33 career receiving yards. He led the Panthers’ receiver corps in catches, targets and yards. The 6-foot-2 wideout came tantalizingly close to a 43-yard touchdown but was ruled down at the three-yard line. All Zylstra accomplished today was getting taken a little more seriously for a 2020 53-man roster spot. He turns 27 in March.

Moore seems all but certain to miss Sunday’s finale against New Orleans following last week’s concussion. It’s been slim pickings for Hogan, who has managed just three catches for 29 scoreless yards on six targets since coming off injured reserve two weeks ago. Despite a potential uptick in volume with Moore sidelined, Hogan can’t be trusted in the fantasy realm, particularly with unproven rookie Will Grier under center.

Zylstra came over from the CFL in 2018 and spent all 16 games on the Vikings’ roster. He caught just one ball and handled a few punt returns as a project. Zylstra battled a hamstring injury during camp but caught a touchdown in the second preseason game. At 6'3/220, Zylstra has some big slot appeal and can also play outside.

Zylstra (6'3/220) played his college ball at Concordia in Minnesota and has spent the past two years in the CFL with the Edmonton Eskimos. He is coming off a huge 2017 where he caught 100 balls for 1,687 yards and five scores, leading the league in receiving. Zylstra will compete for a job this summer.