Detroit Lions rookie wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa was both the most exciting new addition to the 2025 Lions and the most frustrating. Exciting in that he made the most of his opportunities, and frustrating in that those opportunities came few and far between.
TeSlaa deserves grace for those limited opportunities. Head coach Dan Campbell has long had the M.O. of slow-rolling skill position players, easing them into the line-up. Not to mention two incredibly talented WRs in Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams ahead of him, and the tumultuous offensive play-calling saga throughout the season.
Expectations are going to be higher going into year two, and Campbell had nothing but positive things to say about TeSlaa at :
"There's a level of maturity in him, he made some plays when we called his number. He did the dirty work. I think it's hard for rookies to contribute, and for receivers it's even harder. You look at where he was with game one to the very last one, he improved. There's nothing that would tell me he won't take a step in camp this year."
TeSlaa will have an opening to secure the WR3 position. St. Brown and Williams have already received contract extensions, so they're both in for the long haul. Yet the remainder of the WR room has question marks.
The ever-reliable WR/returner Kalif Raymond will be an unrestricted free agent, and with other pressing needs, the Lions could let him walk in favor of TeSlaa at WR and restricted free agent Tom Kennedy as a return man.
TeSlaa should be viewed as the favorite to lock in the WR3 role, or better, in 2026, but the Lions will likely bring in more competition at the position through free agency and the draft to make him earn it.
TeSlaa was a human highlight reel as a rookie
Campbell's quote is encouraging for TeSlaa fans, who he's certainly made plenty of with his highlight reel catches. Not only that, general manager Brad Holmes made the bold move to trade up into the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft to select him, so there's plenty of interest among fans given the high cost to acquire him.
TeSlaa quickly made his presence known with a phenomenal run during the 2025 preseason. That energy carried into Week 1, where TeSlaa caught his first NFL touchdown in a stunning one-handed sideline effort against the Green Bay Packers, followed by another one-handed catch in Week 2 against the Chicago Bears.
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TeSlaa finished the season with just 16 receptions for 239 receiving yards. But of those 16 receptions, six were touchdowns, which was tied for second among rookies. Of those rookies tied or above him in TD catches, the next fewest receptions were Houston Texans WR Jayden Higgins with 41.
Next season can't come soon enough, with a new offensive coordinator and, hopefully, a revamped offensive line and defense. Eyes will definitely be on TeSlaa as he tries to secure the WR3 spot, and if last season was any indication, fans won't want to miss a second of him on the field.