ATLANTA -- The Detroit Lions are adding another tight end to the mix for training camp and the preseason.
Steven Stilianos, a former University of Iowa and UFL tight end for the San Antonio Brahmas, is signing with the Lions, per reports. Stilianos landed with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted rookie in 2024. He appeared in three preseason games for the Titans, but did not make the roster, spending last season with the UFL’s San Antonio Brahmas.
Stilianos was a college teammate of fellow tight end Sam LaPorta and third-year Lions linebacker Jack Campbell while at Iowa.
He had eight catches for 96 yards after former Michigan tight end Erick All suffered an injury in 2023. The 6-foot-5, 251-pound tight end also had 15 catches for 86 yards and one touchdown, and even threw a 38-yard touchdown in San Antonio last season.
Stilianos joins a tight end room in Detroit with the two spots at the top of the depth chart locked up. LaPorta is already one of the NFL’s best tight ends.
Brock Wright has been a reliable TE2 over the last couple of years for the team, too. His ability to handle some dirty work on the line and out of the backfield pairs well with LaPorta.
Outside of those two, though? There is a battle for that potential third spot between Zach Horton, Kenny Yeboah and Shane Zylstra this month.
Horton signed as an undrafted rookie after April’s draft. He has handled a lot of work out of the backfield during camp. Yeboah came over as a free agent after spending the first four years of his career with the New York Jets.
It feels safe to say Zylstra is the odds-on favorite to win the potential TE3 role at this stage of camp. Zylstra is familiar with the staff and scheme, having spent the last four years with the Lions.
He’s even worked with new offensive coordinator John Morton from the 2022 campaign, when Zylstra had career highs in catches (15), yards (60) and touchdowns (four), including a three-touchdown showing on Christmas Eve in Carolina.
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