Isaac TeSlaa’s training camp has looked a lot like the kind of proving ground that can either sharpen a young receiver or expose where he still needs work. For the Detroit Lions, that’s part of the appeal. TeSlaa has the look of a rising piece, but he’s also been forced to grind through a wide-open WR3 battle against a defense that isn’t giving him anything for free.
He’s looked more settled in Detroit this season, but comfort hasn’t translated into clean sailing. The practices have been choppy at times, with TeSlaa taking a little longer to get his footing and having to earn every inch of space. That’s been especially true against a defensive backfield that has kept the pressure on from day one.
MLive.com’s Benjamin Raven pointed out how TeSlaa answered after a couple of rough days. “TeSlaa got blanked on one-on-one drills earlier this week, and hasn't produced much in full-team drills. He left his mark with more fans in attendance this time, beating cornerback Nick Whiteside in both showdowns.”
Raven also wrote, “‘That's more like it,’ is what I wrote in my notes after he made a leaping, back shoulder catch along the sideline to get both feet in. He then won with a short, physical route on his next chance, battling it out.”
There’s still a clear boom-or-bust element to TeSlaa’s game. The consistent separation hasn’t always been there, and the full-team production has come in waves.
But that’s also part of what makes him dangerous. He’s the kind of receiver who can win in tight windows, and that kind of trait can play big when the chances start stacking up.
Raven noted that “It’s OK to keep expectations elevated with more volume.”
By Friday, TeSlaa was back to flashing the kind of catch radius and body control that can turn heads fast. He hauled in an over-the-shoulder grab with his body completely turned around, another reminder that the highlight plays are still there even if the route to them hasn’t been smooth every day.
That upside matters in a camp battle where every rep counts. TeSlaa’s physical style gives him an edge in a fight for the WR3 role, and the way he attacks contested balls separates him from players like Greg Dortch, who is not as physical on deep throws.
The fit only gets more interesting when you look at what Drew Petzing wants his offense to be. He laid out the blueprint plainly: “It needs to be physical.
It needs to be tough. It needs to be difficult to defend and it needs to be multiple at times.
It's not going to all run through one person. It's not going to run through one personnel.
It's going to change week to week. I think that's important in this league.
Defensive coordinators, I think, do things at a really high level. They watch tape.
They understand scheme. So, I think that's a big part of what we need to be on offense.”
That description fits TeSlaa well. He brings physicality, and he can line up in different spots while making life difficult on defenders. Detroit’s job is figuring out how to use that skill set in the cleanest way possible.
The bigger picture is simple: TeSlaa is still going through the bumps, but the talent keeps showing up. He already made plenty of big plays last season as a rookie with limited playbook knowledge, and this year’s work is setting him up to do even more against top NFL competition.
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