The Detroit Lions aggressively pursued Isaac TeSlaa in the 2025 NFL draft. Making an ambitious trade to move up from the 102nd-overall pick all the way to the 70th, the Lions gave up two future third-round picks to land the talented WR out of Arkansas. Many Lions fans expected TeSlaa to be an immediate contributor after he scored a touchdown in four straight games between the preseason slate and the regular-season opener. The 23-year-old pass-catcher eventually cooled down and has largely been an afterthought in Detroit's offense.
This could dramatically change after star tight end Sam LaPorta suffered a likely season-ending injury. LaPorta underwent back surgery after missing Week 11 and is expected to be out for a very long time. This is obviously a devastating development for the Lions and their playoff hopes. At the same time, it presents an excellent opportunity for TeSlaa to become a more integral part of the offense.
Isaac TeSlaa Has Excellent Opportunity to Make His Mark in Sam LaPorta's Absence
In LaPorta's absence in Week 11, Brock Wright was obviously the biggest beneficiary. He played a season-high 49 snaps and finished the game with four targets and two catches. But, TeSlaa also saw an increase in his workload, playing 33.9% of the team's offensive snaps, tied for his second-highest snap share of the season. He finished with one target and zero catches, but should continue to see a bigger role going forward.
The Lions need more depth and quality in their wide receiver rotation. Kalif Raymond took over as the WR3 after Tim Patrick's departure before the season, but he hasn't been too involved in the passing game. The veteran playmaker continues to be relied upon extensively in the return game. Amid a hole in the WR3 spot, TeSlaa hasn't been able to establish himself as a trusted option. This is especially surprising, considering how well he started the season.
TeSlaa's two best games as a rookie remain the first two games of the season. He had two catches for 42 yards and a touchdown in the first two weeks, but this didn't result in an increase in targets. In the last five weeks, TeSlaa has only three targets and one catch for 11 yards, with no touchdowns.
The Lions have a three-game home stretch against the Giants, Packers, and the Cowboys. This will determine the fate of the Lions' season and how successful a rookie season TeSlaa will have. He has been nursing an oblique injury this week and was a limited participant in Wednesday and Thursday's practices. He managed to play through it last week and should be able to do so again this week. Whether it becomes a hindrance for him to finally make his mark on the season, however, remains to be seen.