In the days leading up to Sunday’s game against the Washington Commanders, Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell made it a point of emphasis to say that they have to get rookie wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa more involved.
The Lions took TeSlaa in the third round of the 2025 NFL draft and were clearing the path for him to be the WR3 after trading veteran Tim Patrick to the Jacksonville Jaguars at the end of preseason.
However, the rookie pass-catcher’s first season in the Motor City hasn’t gone to plan as he only had three receptions (six targets) for 54 yards and two touchdowns heading into Week 10. That said, if there were any week for TeSlaa to break out, it would be against the Washington Commanders, who have given up the fourth-most passing yards this season (253.6).
Needless to say, the breakout never happened. TeSlaa only had one reception for 10 yards, as the Lions routed the Commanders, 44-22. Campbell handled the playcalling duties on Sunday, not offensive coordinator John Morton, making the first-year pro's quiet game even more disappointing.
Dan Campbell Doesn’t Follow Through on Isaac TeSlaa Goal in Week 10
Campbell had star running Jahmyr Gibbs running wild to the tune of 142 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries. And WR Jameson Williams finally emerged from his slow start with six receptions (seven targets) for 119 yards and a TD. If you’re a Lions fan, you’re happy to see Williams finally look like the guy we saw last season, but also disappointed that TeSlaa didn’t have a bigger impact.
The rookie receiver saw 20 offensive snaps in Sunday’s win over the Commanders, marking the third time this season he’s received that many. However, seeing TeSlaa only get one catch is not what Lions fans envisioned after what they saw from him in the preseason, and it's clear that an increased snap count doesn't necessarily mean he'll be used more:
Snap Count Range | # of Games | Average Targets |
|---|---|---|
19 or Fewer | 6 | 0.8 |
20 or More | 3 | 0.7 |
Meanwhile, veteran receiver and return specialist Kalif Raymond saw 38 snaps (second-most this season) on Sunday and, in turn, had four receptions (four targets) for 39 yards in the blowout. Through the first 10 weeks of the season, Raymond has played more offensive snaps (243) than TeSlaa (124), which is unfathomable to think about.
With the Lions’ offense clearly having success under Campbell’s watch, one does wonder if the rookie wide receiver will actually get an opportunity to be a playmaker in the offense. Next week, the Lions are set to face the Philadelphia Eagles, who have a leaky No. 2 cornerback spot right now, which opens the door for another huge Williams game.
Last season, we saw Patrick emerge and thrive as Detroit’s WR3, but for some reason, that has not happened yet for TeSlaa. Whether it's a mental roadblock or the coaching staff mishandling him, something has to change soon.
Maybe expectations were placed too high on what TeSlaa could do after what he showed in the preseason. However, when you take a guy with a top-70 pick in the draft, you want him to be a factor, and it's up to Campbell and the Lions to figure out how to make that work before the season is over.