DETROIT — Rookie wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa is no stranger to touchdowns at Ford Field, but now he’s got one as a member of the Detroit Lions.
TeSlaa, playing in the Lions’ home stadium for the first time since he scored three touchdowns to lead Hudsonville Unity Christian to a Division 5 state title in November 2018, made a contested catch in the end zone toward the end of the first half of Saturday’s preseason loss to the Miami Dolphins. It’s his second (unofficial) touchdown in a Lions uniform, but his first at Ford Field.
The score was the last of TeSlaa’s four receptions Saturday. He’s now up to eight catches for 105 yards and two touchdowns on 10 targets in three preseason games, all while sitting most of the second halves.
“I was here in 2018 for the Michigan state championship, Division (5), and I remember walking out of that tunnel and being like, ‘This is the coolest moment of my life,’” said TeSlaa, a former quarterback. “And I go out there — I think I had a passing touchdown, two rushing touchdowns, a couple of interceptions — and I’m like, ‘Man, that’s the coolest moment of my life.’ Then I get drafted by the Lions, that’s the coolest moment of my life. Now I’m walking out of the tunnel as a Lion, score a touchdown.
“I mean, I’m just so blessed. So thankful to God (because) he’s been so faithful to me.”
TeSlaa, a third-round pick in April’s draft, has been impressive in training camp, flashing the physical traits and ability that convinced general manager Brad Holmes to trade up for the Hillsdale College and Arkansas product. Holmes, in a FOX 2 interview during the broadcast of Saturday’s game, said TeSlaa has been “exactly what I thought he was gonna be,” both on and off the field.
Holmes added TeSlaa has “a lot of confidence in himself,” while simultaneously possessing “a sense of humility about him.”
“I think the biggest thing for them was just watching the way I was at the Senior Bowl,” TeSlaa said of the Lions. “I remember Brad Holmes talking about the way I was blocking. That’s just kind of the mentality I’ve always had; even if I’m not getting the targets, I’m going to be out there, blocking safeties, getting it in the run game. He said I wasn’t the most talented receiver, he said I was his favorite. I mean, that’s fair. For me, it’s just the way I play the game, and I think they saw that and they really appreciated that.”
TeSlaa continues to make plays, and he’s got one more preseason game left before he’ll have the chance to score an official NFL touchdown, when the Lions travel to Green Bay to play the Packers on Sept. 7. Whenever that first score does come, in the season opener or not, it’s sure to become TeSlaa’s latest “coolest moment of my life.”
“I have a lot of confidence in myself, but you never know what to expect,” TeSlaa said, when asked if he anticipated being this productive in the preseason. “Obviously, it’s been great to get the targets from these quarterbacks. I mean, I was watching the play I scored on, great protection, gave Kyle (Allen) enough time to pump it and throw it up. I think there’s just so many things that go into my performance that people don’t even notice.
“I think I’ve done some great things, but it’s a credit to everyone around me, for sure.”
Originally Published: August 17, 2025 at 8:40 AM EDT