Lions Rookie Receiver TeSlaa Impressing Coaches, Poised for Role in Run-Heavy Offense
Allen Park, MI – Detroit Lions coaches and management are increasingly optimistic about the potential of rookie wide receiver Jalin teslaa, despite a relatively modest college production record. Head Coach Dan Campbell highlighted TeSlaa’s toughness and willingness to contribute in all facets of the game, telling the Up & Adams Show, “I love it. He goes in there and digs out safeties. Putting his head in there — maybe a little too much sometimes. I tell him, ‘Take it easy, you don’t want to get hurt, get a concussion.’ But he’s super tough. That’s what I love to see.Then he goes up and makes the contested catch. He’s going to be real good for us. He’s big,he’s strong,he’s fast,he’s smart,he’s bought in. I think as the season goes, he’s just going to keep continuing to get better.”
TeSlaa has already demonstrated strong hands, a willingness to block, and the ability to create separation, according to reports. While his preseason counting stats could have been higher with improved quarterback play, analysts note the clear potential for growth. he still needs refinement in his route running, especially on outside routes.
The Lions traded up in the third round to select TeSlaa, who began his collegiate career at Hillsdale College before transferring to Arkansas for his final two seasons. at Arkansas, he recorded 52 catches for 868 yards and five touchdowns.
General Manager Brad Holmes defended the pick,emphasizing the team’s focus on character and potential over raw statistics. “That pick, he really represents what we’re all about,” Holmes stated.”You have to do a lot of work on him. It requires a lot of work. it would be easy if he had, you know, 90 catches and 1,100 yards in the SEC and all that, but he didn’t, so you had to dig a little bit deeper and watch even more tape and dig deeper into the background.”
Holmes continued,”The targets that he did have,he took full advantage of them…he’s catching every ball with his hands,he’s not dropping anything. …I just feel like it’s a little bit of an easy way out, maybe a little bit more of a lazier narrative [to focus solely on production]. If it’s high production, that doesn’t mean that a player is going to be successful.”
While TeSlaa joins a more crowded receiving corps than Amon-Ra St. Brown did in 2021, he could challenge veteran Tim Patrick for the WR3 role.His willingness to block could also earn him playing time early in the season, as the Lions aim to establish a strong running game to complement their passing attack.
