Isaac TeSlaa arrived in Detroit with real momentum last season, stacking highlight-reel catches and giving Lions fans plenty to latch onto. The 2025 third-round pick turned that promise into a rookie line of 239 yards and six touchdowns on 16 catches, enough production to make a second-year jump feel like the natural next step.
That hasn’t happened yet.
Through training camp and the first two preseason games, TeSlaa has looked far less polished than expected. The Hudsonville, Mich., native has been plagued by drops in practice and in games, and his preseason opener against the Bengals was especially rough.
He let two catchable throws slip away in that game, including one on the opening drive that led to a Luke Altmyer pick. TeSlaa finished that contest without a catch, then followed it with a no-target outing on 27 offensive snaps against the Commanders.
For a player penciled in as the Lions’ No. 3 wideout entering the 2026 season, that’s a disappointing start.
Still, Dan Campbell isn’t sounding the alarm. After Detroit’s preseason opener in Cincinnati, the Lions coach made it clear he’s not ready to panic over the 24-year-old receiver.
"I think more than anything, just stay the course. And I feel like TeSlaa - I don't feel like I need to (say anything to reassure him)," Campbell said following Detroit's preseason opener in Cincinnati.
"Now, that doesn't mean I won't say something, but he's a pretty headsy guy, he's a pretty confident guy, and he's pretty good about, 'You know what? I just gotta go back to work.'”
TeSlaa’s camp has been a letdown so far, no question. The growth many expected after his rookie year hasn’t shown up yet, and the early returns have been far from what Detroit needs from a receiver in that role.
But there’s still one more chance to change the conversation before the regular season opens against the Saints. The Lions close out the preseason Saturday against the Colts, and a strong showing there would go a long way toward washing away the rough start.
TeSlaa and the Lions will face the Colts on Saturday at 1 p.m. (EST).
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