The Detroit Lions have elevated former CFL receiver Brandon Zylstra to the active roster ahead of their matchup with the Green Bay Packers, but he won’t be the only player making the jump.
Also being called up for the game is tight end Shane Zylstra, Brandon’s younger brother. It will mark the first game that the pair from Spicer, Minnesota have played on the same NFL field.
The elder Zylstra signed in Detroit early this October and will be making his Lions debut against Green Bay. The 29-year-old was released by the Carolina Panthers as part of final training camp cuts after three seasons with the team.
The six-foot-two, 215-pound target has played four seasons in the NFL as a member of the Minnesota Vikings (2018) and Panthers (2019-21), recording 30 receptions for 414 yards and one touchdown. He also returned a fumble for a touchdown in 2020 while covering a punt against the Washington Football Team. Zylstra is coming off a career-best season in which he notched 18 receptions for 250 yards and one touchdown over 13 games.
Three years his junior, Shane Zylstra is in his second season with Detroit and has dressed for seven games over that span, catching three passes for 34 yards. He has long been a member of the Edmonton Elks’ exclusive negotiations list, the same team where Brandon began his professional career.
Zylstra signed with Edmonton as a rookie in 2016, making 34 receptions for 508 yards and three touchdowns despite dressing for only six games. He improved on those numbers the following year, as he led the CFL in receiving with 100 catches for 1,687 yards and five touchdowns.
The Lions (1-6) are scheduled to host the Packers (3-5) on Sunday, November 6 at 1:00 p.m. EDT.
