Shane

Zylstra

Hardman’s release was first reported by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. A seven-year NFL veteran, Hardman spent most of his career with the Chiefs, where he helped Kansas City win three Super Bowls. Last year he appeared in only two games with the Bills and dropped passes were an issue in training camp and preseason this year. Hardman will head to the open market where he could be a fit for another team looking for wide receiver depth. Also released/waived were OLB Cade Denhoff, CB Jordan Dunbar, G Bruno Fina, ILB Theron Gaines, C Sincere Haynesworth, DL Zion Logue, CB D.J. Miller, S Wande Owens, WR Dante Pettis, LB Otis Reese IV, WR Quentin Skinner, and TE Shane Zylstra.

The Lions were without their top three tight ends last week. Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright were—and remain—on injured reserve while Zylstra missed the game with a knee issue. His return to practice today puts him on track to start for Detroit in Week 15. In a potential shootout with the Rams, Zylstra will be a touchdown-or-bust TE2.

Fellow Lions TE Shane Zylstra (knee) is also out. With No. 1 TE Sam LaPorta (back) on injured reserve, TE Ross Dwelley will get the start. Dwelley warrants consideration in DFS tournaments, given the game’s expectedly high-scoring environment but he is just a touchdown-dependent TE2 in re-draft formats.

Wright was listed as a non-participant on Monday is still a DNP Tuesday after missing Week 12 due to a neck injury. Fellow tight end Shane Zylstra was listed as limited on Monday due to a knee injury, but was downgraded to DNP on Tuesday. Both tight ends are in jeopardy of missing Thursday against the Cowboys, leaving the Lions scarce at the position.

Zylstra returns to the Lions after appearing in 12 games in 2024. He caught just one pass for 22 yards and was primarily used on special teams and as a blocker. The Lions have a powerhouse of an offense and Zylstra will fit in as a reserve tight end, blocker, and special teamer.

A day after Zylstra was feared to have suffered a “significant” knee injury, the Lions have opted to waive him. Zylstra’s finest hour came in a three-touchdown performance against the Panthers in Week 16, but he’s otherwise been little more than a role player. We’ve yet to receive any specifics on Zylstra’s injury, but he’s expected to be sidelined for the majority of the 2023 season. Zylstra will revert back to IR once he clears waivers.

Zylstra managed a three-touchdown outburst in 2022 against the Panthers but has otherwise been utilized as a situational tight end during his time in Detroit. Rookie second-rounder Sam LaPorta should be the starting tight end to begin the season, with Brock Wright likely to see snaps out of 12-personnel and James Mitchell the likeliest to see situational work as the primary backup pass-catching tight end.

The Lions also signed DE Eric Banks, LB Tavante Beckett, DE Bruce Hector, WR Javon McKinley, QB Steven Montez, CB Parnell Motley, OT Dan Skipper, and CB Saivion Smith to reserve/future contracts. Zylstra led the Lions’ depleted tight end room in snaps in Week 14 but only turned two catches into 18 yards. He finished the year on injured reserve because of a knee injury.

Brock Wright, meanwhile, did not record a catch against Arizona. Zylstra looks to be the team’s TE1 with T.J. Hockensen (thumb) done for the season. He’s not worth rostering though.