Latest news with #IsaacTeSlaa
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Isaac TeSlaa film room: Breaking down the Lions rookie WR's preseason debut game
It's always hard to gauge what a player can really do after just one preseason game. For the most part, you shouldn't overreact too much but through the Detroit Lions lone preseason game up to this point of the summer, there's been some encouraging development for a number of their players. One of those players is rookie wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa. In the Hall of Fame loss to the Los Angeles Chargers last week, TeSlaa was one of the top performers on the offensive side of the football for the Lions. He finished the game with two receptions for 46 yards on three targets. He did all this while only playing 32 offensive snaps, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF). Throughout the summer, we've seen TeSlaa stack good days on top of each other. That has continued as of this writing. For now, let's dive into the film to review how the rookie wide receiver did in his first career NFL action. Starting with the first reception we saw from TeSlaa in the Hall of Fame game, we go to the play above. One of the key takeaways I took from this game is how much the Lions ran plays out of their '12' personnel (one running back and two tight ends). That may end up changing if Zach Horton (#40) ends up making the 53-man roster but moves to fullback. That said, let's focus on Isaac TeSlaa (#18) and how he's aligned at the top of the screen. The Lions run a cool hi-lo concept on a bootleg pass with the offensive line sliding to the right. Spilling out from under the offensive line is TE Shane Zylstra (#84) to the flats. Running deeper downfield and across it is TeSlaa. Lions QB Kyle Allen (#8) quickly sees TeSlaa, who glides with ease. The quick and fluid movement is impressive by the rookie wide receiver. It's a big first down that was one of the better offensive plays from the Lions on the night. Moving to the next play, we'll see the Lions run only two routes downfield until a tight end check-releases. Focusing on the bottom of the screen, you'll see TeSlaa (#18) faced with off-man coverage from the Chargers. With the outside leverage from the cornerback, TeSlaa explodes to the middle of the field on a dig route. There's a chance that this is an option route (vertical/curl/dig) for the rookie wide receiver, but I digress. As the route continues to develop, quarterback Kyle Allen (#8) begins to extend beyond the pocket. Once TeSlaa gets past the safety down in the box, Allen fires it to the rookie wide receiver. As he secures the ball away from his frame, he turns upfield to gain some additional yardage for the first down. It's been an eventful 4 months for TeSlaa. First, he was drafted by his hometown team in the 3rd round of the 2025 NFL Draft, and he's put together a strong summer camp. At this point, it wouldn't be surprising if we see the rookie receiver carve out a bigger role on the Lions' offense. On the Lions 'Inside the Den' YouTube series, it was revealed that the Lions may have bigger plans for him. Possibly even more impressive is that the Lions scouting department has been watching TeSlaa since his days at Hillsdale College. As a player, he was described as a "...natural hands catcher..." and that "he's everything that we look for in this culture. Tough, competitive, athlete.' Highlights of his blocking, run-after-catch ability and athleticism really stood out in the video. It may be tough for TeSlaa to take targets away from Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and Sam LaPorta, but he could develop into a productive pass catcher. Especially if the sluggish start from Tim Patrick continues into the regular season. We'll see how the preseason goes the rest of the way, but the rookie from Hudsonville, Michigan, is off to a good start.
Yahoo
31-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Detroit Lions vs Los Angeles Chargers: 5 Things to Watch Closely
The NFL is finally back in action later tonight when the Detroit Lions hit the gridiron to take on the Los Angeles Chargers. Football fans can witness the Hall of Fame game at 7 p.m. ET on NBC/Peacock. While the first preseason game is far from must-watch TV, for football enthusiasts, it's a welcome sign that more competitive matchups are on the way. The average fan may only tune in for the first five or ten minutes, but here's what they should be watching closely later tonight. Related: Can Isaac TeSlaa Be Electrifying? The Lions had the NFL's highest-scoring offense last season, but that didn't prevent them from selecting receiver Isaac TeSlaa in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft. While TeSlaa is a lock to make the roster, the bigger question is how much of a role he can carve out on a Lions depth chart that features Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Tim Patrick, and Kalif Raymond. Seeing TeSlaa in action tonight could give us our first glimpse of an answer. Related: Tyleik Williams: Man Amongst Boys? Knowing they wanted more of a dominant presence along their defensive line, the Lions targeted Ohio State's Tyleik Williams with the 28th overall pick in the first round. At 6-foot-3, 327 pounds, there's no question that Williams has NFL size. But as a first-round pick, he's expected to dominate in exhibition action, so let's see what he's capable of. Related: Will Tre' Harris Shine? Is the Chargers' receiver depth chart overhaul complete? Keenan Allen and Mike Williams are long gone, the latter isn't even in the NFL anymore. Replacing them are Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, and now rookie second-round pick Tre' Harris. A shifty receiver, Harris is expected to carve out a fairly significant role in the Chargers' offense. and we can't wait to see how fast he looks on an NFL field. Related: Trey Lance: Bust or Hidden Gem? Despite being the third overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Trey Lance has only made five starts and a total of 12 appearances in the past four seasons. Yet, he's getting the chance to start the Hall of Fame game. Lance became a first-round pick thanks in part to his athleticism. Will his mobility be on full display tonight, or will we see the type of mistakes that caused both the 49ers and Cowboys to move on? Related: Is Chargers RB Omarion Hampton the Real Deal? If healthy, the Chargers should have a fairly potent backfield this season. Najee Harris is the model of consistency, topping 1,000 rushing yards all four years of his career. Yet, Hampton offers more big-play potential while still being able to fall forward on most occasions. If Hampton looks like a special player, he just might beat out Harris for the starting role by season's end. Visit LAFBNetwork for more Los Angeles Chargers news and rumors Related Headlines Report: Blue Jays Linked to Another Huge Upgrade Trade After Shane Bieber Acquistion MLB Trade Rumors: Updates on Mets-Robert, Alcantara, Padres-Miller Before 5 PM Deadline 2025 F1 Power Rankings: Hungarian Grand Prix Update Caitlin Clark's Enforcer Reveals WNBA Teams' Plan Against Her
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Predicting the Lions' WR3 battle, two veterans move aside
Predicting the Lions' WR3 battle, two veterans move aside originally appeared on A to Z Sports. The Detroit Lions will begin training camp in less than two weeks when rookies report on July 16. Until then, we're going to be making predictions on the biggest camp battles of the summer. Issac TeSlaa vs Tim Patrick vs Kalif Raymond The Lions are set with their two starting guys with Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, but the Lions are in a place where they can benefit from a third receiver who will get plenty of opportunities. Let's talk about the options. Isaac TeSlaa The Lions traded three third-round picks to move up for TeSlaa, and they did it because he brings an aspect to the Lions offense that they haven't really had in a long time. A big X-receiver who can high-point the ball and make contested catches. He can also stretch the field, and that helps. Tim Patrick Patrick helped the Lions a lot last year. The idea was that Detroit really wanted to replace the type of production that Josh Reynolds brought to the team, and for the most part, he did that. He was solid when it came to getting first-down catches. He did struggle in the red zone and didn't bring a lot of yards after the catch. Kalif Raymond Raymond spent many weeks on the injured reserve list in 2024, but even before and after that, the Lions began to move away from him as an option on the offense. He spent most of the year just being the return man. A role that he is very good at. Who's getting the job? This one seems very obvious to me. It's going to Iaac TeSlaa, and the reasons are that he can just bring more to the offense than Partick and Raymond. The ability to be a solid blocker while also being a guy who can play a big role in the red zone and gets yards after the catch elsewhere is big for this team and adds another layer to the offense. Advertisement Related: Predicting the Lions RB3 battle, is it time to move towards the future for Detroit? View the original article to see embedded media. This story was originally reported by A to Z Sports on Jul 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lions Rookie Isaac TeSlaa Shares His Hatred for the Green Bay Packers
The Detroit Lions made a surprising decision in the third round of this year's NFL Draft. They traded their third-round pick along with two third rounders in next year's draft to move up to pick 70 and select wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa. Advertisement The move was seen as a bit of a reach at the time as TeSlaa wasn't all that productive in his two years at Arkansas. That narrative has been changing a bit since the draft as it was revealed there were multiple other teams who could have selected TeSlaa around pick 70 and the Lions faced competition to trade for the pick. Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaaJunfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Now he has taken a step to endear himself to fans that might make them happier with the pick. During the most recent episode of the "St. Brown Podcast" TeSlaa told new teammate Amon-Ra St. Brown that he already hates the Green Bay Packers. TeSlaa told St. Brown, "I hate the Packers with a burning passion." Advertisement TeSlaa already having strong feelings about the Lions' rivals shouldn't come as a big surprise. The rookie receiver grew up in Michigan and has been rooting for the Lions for years. He even mentioned on the podcast that he had shown up to his pre-draft visit with the Lions wearing a custom Lions jersey that had his high school jersey number on it. Luckily for TeSlaa, he won't have to wait very long to put his hatred of the Packers to good use. The Lions are scheduled to head to Green Bay for a Week 1 matchup against their division rival. TeSlaa can quickly help Lions fans forget how much he cost if he puts together a solid performance in that matchup. Advertisement Related: Lions Named Best Fit for $21 Million Former All-Pro Who They Should Have Already Signed Related: $9 Million Lions Defender Named a Potential Trade Target for Panthers
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
'I hate Packers': Isaac TeSlaa shocks fans with bold message about Packers on podcast appearance
'I hate Packers': Isaac TeSlaa shocks fans with bold message about Packers on podcast appearance (Image Source: Getty Images) Detroit Lions rookie wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa is already winning over fans with his honesty. On May 20, 2025, TeSlaa appeared on the St. Brown Brothers Podcast, hosted by his teammate Amon-Ra St. Brown and his brother Equanimeous St. Brown. During the conversation, TeSlaa shared a strong opinion about the Green Bay Packers . His simple 8-word answer left fans of the Lions excited and proud. The former Hillsdale College player was not expected to go so early in the draft, but the Lions clearly saw something special in him. And now, fans are seeing it too. Isaac TeSlaa makes strong Packers comment on podcast Isaac TeSlaa, who was picked by the Detroit Lions in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, did not hold back when asked about his feelings toward the Green Bay Packers. During the podcast recording earlier this week, the rookie wide receiver said, 'I hate the Packers with a burning passion.' The comment quickly gained attention online. This episode of the St. Brown Brothers Podcast was published on May 20, 2025. The quote spread fast among Detroit fans, who are excited to see a player who already shares their rivalry energy. Isaac TeSlaa has supported the Lions since he was a kid, so his feelings are not new. According to TeSlaa even showed up for his pre-draft visit wearing a Lions shirt. That gesture left a strong impression on the team. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Device Made My Power Bill Drop Overnight elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Pre-Order Undo Also Read: Detroit Lions' 2025 NFL Draft: Bold Moves And Controversial Picks That Could Raise Eyebrows Isaac TeSlaa's Lions roots go back to middle school Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes also spoke about Isaac TeSlaa's loyalty during a press conference after the draft. Holmes said the shirt TeSlaa wore was not just for show. When Holmes asked him about it, TeSlaa explained that he had owned the shirt since eighth grade. Holmes said, 'I thought he just did a cheesy move, like some fanboy stuff… But no, he said, 'I've had this since the eighth grade. What better time to wear it than now?'' The Lions drafted Isaac TeSlaa using three third-round picks, two of which were from the 2026 draft. It was a surprising move to many, as TeSlaa was not widely expected to be selected so early. He will begin the season behind Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Tim Patrick, and Kalif Raymond, but could rise in the lineup over time if he performs well. The Lions' faith in his passion and potential is already clear. Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
