The Isaac TeSlaa hype train that was roaring when Brad Holmes insanely valued him during the 2025 NFL Draft as a third-round pick, but a little over a year in, it’s running out of steam.
The former Arkansas Razorback was supposed to be a complementary piece to Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, but he hasn’t quite lived up to the hype. And through two games in 2026, he’s looked like a shell of what the Lions drafted.
TeSlaa has two catches on six targets for just 26 yards, and the pass game has basically just been St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, and Williams, which isn’t going to hold up the entire season.
Hope had still been alive that TeSlaa would figure it out, especially after a 20-yard catch in the second half against the Bills, but WR coach Scottie Montgomery kind of ended all of that by insinuating that his role would be limited even more than it already is.
Scottie Montgomery said Isaac TeSlaa's "opportunities are going to be limited."
— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) September 23, 2026
He said the Lions first and second progressions have been open, so TeSlaa's main opportunities are going to be in "pressure situations" on fourth down and red zone. pic.twitter.com/NPKvYZuMhI
Montgomery essentially said that TeSlaa is going to be used primarily in fourth-down and red-zone situations. Those “pressure situations” will require more TeSlaa, probably because he can be that jump-ball target, but not having him as a weapon every down is disappointing. It’s never good when your own coach comes out and says that your opportunities are going to be limited to desperate situations.
Not good.
TeSlaa had already been struggling this season, and it couldn’t come at a worse time with Williams having a bit of a drop issue so far this season and no real depth at the position, but this statement from Montgomery doesn’t sound like we’ll be seeing his breakout happen any time soon.
The Lions’ receiving corps desperately need help
St. Brown has been one of the best receivers in the NFL through two weeks, catching 19 passes for 209 yards and four touchdowns, while Williams has just six receptions for 78 yards.
Those are the only two receivers other than TeSlaa who have caught a pass this season. That’s not a sustainable trend. St. Brown has been targeted on 27 of Jared Goff’s 77 passes, and Williams is tied for third on the team with 13 targets, but LaPorta has emerged as the No. 2 target. Jahmyr Gibbs could even be considered Goff’s third favorite target, catching 11 passes for 91 yards and a touchdown.
St. Brown, a slow-starting Williams, and a sophomore slumping TeSlaa are not going to be enough for a playoff push, and while the secondary is a need before the trade deadline, a receiver is right up there.
It’s time to get the receiving corps some help.
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