Isaac TeSlaa, the Detroit Lions' best rookie so far this training camp and preseason, got some ridiculous hype from the Lions' passing game coordinator in the team's most recent preseason bout.
Against the Miami Dolphins, TeSlaa had a gravity defying catch over a Dolphins defender. Despite being completely wrapped up, TeSlaa managed to jump up and grab the pass from Kyle Allen with seeming ease, once again highlighting just how good TeSlaa's hands are for Lions fans in attendance.
Detroit's passing game coordinator David Shaw made sure to give TeSlaa his flowers for that reception in a clip shared to social media on Wednesday by NFL insider Jordan Schultz.
"All you're doing is putting confidence in the quarterbacks, right? Against you, and any human being on the planet 1-on-1, you’ll come down with it," said Shaw to TeSlaa after the touchdown.
TeSlaa replied: "No 50-50, baby. No 50-50."
TeSlaa earned praise from passing game coordinator in loss to Dolphins
It's certainly beginning to feel like TeSlaa was the steal of the Lions' draft. The third round pick out of Arkansas was a similar swing to that of Sam LaPorta - a player with obviously great potential who was dealing with a bad quarterback situation prior to entering the draft.
TeSlaa wasn't a highlight reel player while with the Razorbacks, but it's obvious Detroit's front office saw some major potential with the 6'4" receiver. So far this preseason, TeSlaa has 105 receiving yards, two touchdowns, and eight total receptions. He's also averaging about 13 yards per reception. He's been one of the better rookie receivers in preseason, and the Lions' best rookie by far.
With TeSlaa, Tim Patrick, and potentially Jackson Meeks in the fold at WR3, the Lions' offense will see another positive dimension added. In red zone situations, having physical receivers like these three is all important, and TeSlaa keeps proving he can be a reliable target for quarterbacks in clutch situations like that.
As Shaw said in the clip, TeSlaa is only further providing confidence to quarterbacks on the Lions' roster who want to pass to him. Jared Goff has even provided his two cents on the rookie,telling Nolan Bianchi of The Detroit News "He started to catch up and he's started to understand the physicality it takes. He certainly has a chance to have a role in our offense and has done a great job getting better every day."
TeSlaa is probably the only rookie receiver who has clearly locked up a spot on the Lions' 53-man roster ahead of their final preseason game this coming Saturday.
