Isaac TeSlaa had a solid rookie season, reeling in 16 catches for 239 yards with six touchdown grabs. The Arkansas product came on late in the season and demonstrated the ability to come up with some tough, contested catches throughout the 2025 season.
But, the Lions are looking for more from TeSlaa in 2026 to pair with its two star receivers, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams.
Lions associate head coach and wide receivers coach Scottie Montgomery is excited about TeSlaa’s added athleticism heading into the 2026 season.
“He’s done a good job of going and getting the football since he’s been here and then now at the top of his breaks, they’re so much cleaner. He’s so much stronger. What I like to do is I like to watch where we were, especially from an athleticism standpoint, to where he is now. It’s not even close,” Montgomery said.
A third-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, TeSlaa finished last season by registering eight catches for 119 yards and two touchdowns in the season’s final three weeks.
Montgomery and the Lions think that TeSlaa’s added athleticism will help him get off the line more fluidly and help him become a more available target for quarterback Jared Goff.
“That gives him the ability in those one-on-one situations and not just win with length, but to win with quickness and length,” Montgomery said. “That gives, of course, (Goff) just an even bigger window to throw the football.”
Per Pro Football Focus, TeSlaa recorded 438 offensive snaps.
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This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: ‘It’s not even close’: Lions WR Isaac TeSlaa makes athleticism jump
