Detroit Lions tight end Shane Zylstra suffered suffered a season-ending knee injury during Monday’s training camp practice, the Free Press confirmed on Monday evening.
A person familiar with the diagnosis but not authorized to speak publicly about Zylstra’s health said it is not an ACL tear.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport was first to report the news.
Zylstra injured the knee when cornerback Khalil Dorsey hit him low near the end of practice. Zylstra limped off the field after the play.
Cornerback Cam Sutton immediately threw his hands up and grabbed his helmet as if to say, “Oh no” while safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson went over and spoke to Dorsey right after the hit.
Both offensive and defensive players took a knee as Zylstra was helped off the field.
Zylstra appeared in 13 games for the Lions last year and had a memorable three-touchdown performance on Dec. 24 against the Carolina Panthers. The tight end saw an increased role when the Lions traded former first-round pick T.J. Hockenson to the Minnesota Vikings midseason.
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Zylstra is entering his third season and has 14 catches, 94 yards and four touchdowns in his career.
According to Rapoport, Zylstra will have more tests but there isn’t a lot of optimism surrounding the injury. Zylstra will now likely miss at least the next six months as he recovers.
Free Press sports writer Dave Birkett contributed to this report.