Bills' signing of ex-Lions TE adds another revenge angle to primetime matchup

It won't take long into the 2026 NFL season before the Detroit Lions get their first Thursday game, as they'll help the Buffalo Bills open up Highmark Stadium in Week 2.

Lions fans may also see a familiar face on the opposing sideline as the Bills have signed former Lions tight end Shane Zylstra to a one-year deal, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Zylstra went undrafted in 2020 before signing with his hometown Minnesota Vikings in 2021. His practice-squad stint in Minnesota was short-lived, as he was waived during the final roster cuts.

Zylstra signed with the Lions the following day and made his main roster debut in Week 5 of that season against his former Vikings team, where he played in 12 special team snaps. Zylstra finished his first season with three receptions and 34 yards, and two first downs.

Zylstra remained with the Lions, bouncing back and forth between the practice squad and the main roster. The exception being 2023, when he missed the entire season after suffering a knee injury during training camp. In 2025, Zylstra injured his ankle in Week 2, but later returned in Week 15. Zylstra started three games the rest of the way due to Sam LaPorta's back injury suffered before Zylstra's return.

With the Lions, Zylstra had 18 receptions for 136 yards, with all four of his career touchdowns coming in 2022 -- three of them being in the Week 16 loss against the Carolina Panthers.

More revenge games slated in Week 2

It remains to be seen whether or not Zylstra will be on the Bills' active roster come Week 2. At the very least, Zylstra had been effective in a special teams unit that has seen plenty of turnover for the Lions this offseason.

Zylstra isn't the only one who may have that Week 2 matchup circled. Safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson signed a one-year deal with the Bills this offseason. Despite making the NFC Championship game in his lone injury-plagued season with the Lions in 2023, Gardner-Johnson continued his tradition of bad-mouthing his former team, teammates, and/or fans upon his departure.

READ MORE: Lions could be in for a Thanksgiving disaster if latest schedule prediction is true

Also on the Bills' 2026 roster is backup quarterback Kyle Allen, who was the backup in Detroit in 2025. Allen is not expected to see the field, but he'll be invaluable to the game-planning process. Allen did not play under new Lions offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, but he is familiar with Kelvin Sheppard's defense and many members of the Lions' roster. That insight could be a big advantage for the Bills.

The good thing about revenge games is that they can go both ways, and the Lions would love nothing more than to spoil this revenge game and the Bills' housewarming party when their Week 2 matchup kicks off on September 17.

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