Before he even played a snap in the Motor City, Detroit Lions fans were excited to see what rookie wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa could do as the team’s WR3.
Last season, veteran Tim Patrick thrived in that role behind Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, racking up 33 receptions (44 targets) for 394 yards and three touchdowns. When the Lions traded Patrick in late August to the Jacksonville Jaguars, the belief was that TeSlaa would have a runway to the WR3 job and play an integral role in the passing game, making Patrick's departure sting less.
Needless to say, that has not been the case. Fast forward to Week 9, and the rookie wideout has not been a factor in the passing game, which is concerning given that you spent a top-100 pick on him (70th overall, third round).
And it doesn’t help that other rookie wide receivers taken after TeSlaa have outperformed him midway through the season:
- Houston Texans WR Jaylin Noel (79th overall) -- 14 recs for 162 yards, 1 TD
- Tennessee Titans WR Chimere Dike (103rd overall) -- 21 recs for 194 yards, 1 TD
- Washington Commanders WR Jaylin Lane (128th overall) -- 14 recs for 171 yards
- Seattle Seahawks WR Tory Horton (166th overall) -- 13 recs for 161 yards, 5 TDs
Isaac TeSlaa’s Rookie Season Has Been a Major Disappointment in 2025
Despite TeSlaa’s slow start, it’s too early for fans to write him off just yet. As we know, the Lions’ passing game and offense in general have been a huge topic of conversation as offensive coordinator John Morton has struggled in his first year calling the shots.
While St. Brown has gotten his targets (9.3 per game), it's been a noticeable struggle to get the ball into Williams’ hand (4.5 targets per game). And if that’s the case, there’s no reason to think or expect TeSlaa to be in the conversation on offense.
That doesn’t make Lions fans happy, especially because TeSlaa showed a lot of promise in the preseason. The former Arkansas receiver, who ran a 4.43 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, had 10 receptions (13 targets) for 146 yards and three scores.
That preseason success has translated into three receptions (six targets) for 54 yards and two touchdowns in eight regular-season games. In Sunday’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings, TeSlaa didn’t have a single target and only played 8 total snaps (three offense).
In fact, this is the third time that TeSlaa has had no targets or catches in a game. The last time he had a catch in a game was in Week 5 against the Cincinnati Bengals – a 12-yard TD.
If TeSlaa was drafted in the fifth or sixth round and he wasn’t producing, people likely wouldn’t bat an eye. However, the fact that you used a top-100 pick on him rather than on a pass rusher, and he’s not an integral part of your passing game, is a problem. Day 2 picks are supposed to produce, whether that’s on a contender or a team that’s likely playing for a top-10 selection.
Detroit fans will hope that things can turn around for TeSlaa in the second half of the season, but it's not a guarantee with established players still struggling. Hopefully, TeSlaa can remind the fan base exactly why the Lions drafted him in the first place.