By Blessing 
Last Chance in Honolulu Blue: 3 Lions Fighting for Their Football Lives This Preseason
The Detroit Lions enter the 2025 preseason with their heads held high—but not without questions hanging over them. Once crowned as a top-tier NFC team, they’re still carrying the weight of a disappointing playoff exit that left fans asking: Did we miss our moment?
Just last year, Detroit felt like a team of destiny. A 15-win regular season had fans daring to dream of a Super Bowl run. But then came the stunning first-round loss to the Washington Commanders—an emotional gut punch that still lingers. With longtime coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn both gone, the Lions now find themselves in transition. Is the momentum still there? Or has the climb plateaued?
Head coach Dan Campbell isn’t buying into the doom. “The window is absolutely still open,” he says, doubling down on the belief in a hardened roster that now has another season of experience under its belt. But fans know the stakes. The NFC North is no longer an easy path, and this new-look staff must answer right away.
That urgency trickles down the depth chart, especially to the players hanging onto roster spots by a thread. For some, this summer might be the last time they wear the Honolulu Blue.
Let’s break down three bubble players who must shine this preseason to keep their NFL hopes alive in Detroit.
1. DB Rock Ya-Sin – Veteran or Preseason Cut?
On paper, Rock Ya-Sin should be a safe bet. A former second-round pick with six years under his belt, he’s played in at least 11 games every season. But availability hasn’t equated to impact. In 2024, he didn’t start a single game for the San Francisco 49ers, contributing mostly on special teams.
Still, the Lions saw something worth exploring and signed him to a low-risk, one-year deal just north of $1 million. It’s a prove-it contract, and the odds aren’t necessarily in his favor. Jerry Jacobs has locked down one starting corner spot, while youngsters like Dan Jackson and Kennelly are hungry and flashing during camp.
That makes this expanded preseason critical for Ya-Sin. More snaps mean more chances to show he’s still got starter-quality depth in him. If he can prove he’s not just a veteran placeholder but a capable insurance policy behind the starters, he might just stick.
2. QB Kyle Allen – Battling a Rising Star
Kyle Allen’s arrival in Detroit didn’t cause much buzz. But quietly, he could end up playing a pivotal role in shaping the team’s quarterback room.
Now in his seventh NFL season, Allen has bounced around, but his calm presence could challenge second-year QB Hendon Hooker. The Lions’ decision to bring in Teddy Bridgewater late last season suggested they weren’t fully confident in Hooker’s readiness. Bringing in Allen only reinforces that.
The challenge is clear: Allen needs to perform well enough to either convince the staff to carry three quarterbacks or flat-out outplay Hooker for the backup role. It’s a razor-thin opportunity, but Allen knows how to navigate those. He’s seen it all—injuries, cuts, last-minute starts.
A strong August showing might be enough to keep him on the active roster, giving the Lions a veteran fallback option if things get bumpy. He won’t get many chances, but every rep will matter.
3. TE Shane Zylstra – The Grinder Faces New Blood
Few players on this roster know the grind like Shane Zylstra. Since joining Detroit in 2021, he’s spent more time bouncing between the practice squad and active roster than most fans realize. But his work ethic and versatility have kept him around—and earned him 15 career catches in limited action.
Last November, Zylstra got another shot with a promotion to the 53-man roster. But this offseason, the competition in the tight end room has grown fierce. Kenny Yeboah came in through free agency, and rookies Luke Deal and Zach Horton are making strong cases during OTAs and early camp. Horton, especially, brings fresh energy and athletic upside that could push Zylstra out.
For Zylstra, the preseason isn’t just about making a few plays. He needs to prove that his value—the blocking, the red zone consistency, the locker room presence—is still greater than the unknown upside of the newcomers. If he can deliver as a multi-tool tight end with chemistry already in place, he might just earn another year in Detroit.
No Time to Waste
For Rock Ya-Sin, Kyle Allen, and Shane Zylstra, the stakes are clear. This isn’t just a battle for depth chart positioning—it’s about staying in the league. August is more than warmups and install periods. It’s where dreams are either rekindled or quietly fade away.
The Lions, as an organization, are at a crossroads. The pieces for a deep playoff run are still there, but the margin for error has shrunk. Every roster spot matters now more than ever. These three players are fighting for theirs—hoping to turn this preseason into a career lifeline.
Because in Detroit, while the championship window might still be open… so is the exit door.