Pride of Detroit
The next installment in our training camp preview series looks at the Lions’ tight ends room.
In this installment of our Detroit Lions 2025 training camp preview, we examine the Lions’ tight ends room, speculate on current and future roles, and discuss how many players from this group could make the 53-man roster.
Previous training camp previews:
The Lions entered 2024 training camp with Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright locking down the Lions’ top two tight ends spots and a battle for their TE3 role. Tight end/H-back Parker Hesse eventually won the job, beating out Shane Zylstra and James Mitchell, who both ended up signing to the practice squad.
The Lions rely heavily on their top two tight ends, and in 2024, they ran 12 personnel (two tight end sets) 32.2% of the time, the third-highest rate in the NFL. Their TE3 role is used less frequently (the Lions deployed 13 personnel 3.49% of the time, ninth most), but Detroit asks a lot of this player. Not only does TE3 have to assume tight end responsibilities, but they are also required to play fullback/H-back, and start on special teams.
Last season, Hesse averaged just under 10 offensive snaps over the first six games, but was a healthy scratch in Weeks 7 through 9. Zylstra, who had expanded his game to include H-back responsibilities, was elevated from the practice squad for the TE3 role during those three games. By Week 10, the Lions released Hesse and signed Zylstra, who also averaged just under 10 offensive snaps for the remainder of the season.
The Lions entered the 2025 offseason with LaPorta and Wright still under contract, and once again, their TE3 role was up for grabs. To compete for the job, the Lions re-signed Zylstra, signed Kenny Yeboah to a one-year deal in free agency, and signed rookies Zach Horton and Caden Prieskorn to UDFA contracts. Prieskorn was released following rookie minicamp, and rookie UDFA Luke Deal was signed after a tryout. Former Lions draft pick/practice squader James Mitchell signed with the Panthers.
Under the Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell regime, the Lions have been inconsistent with the number of tight ends on the active roster, initially using a fullback early in their tenures but opting for TE/H-backs in recent seasons.
Let’s take a look at what they’ve done in the previous four seasons:
