Dan Campbell
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Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell had one of his team's rookies, Miles Frazier, delivered a three-word message on social media Sunday.
The Detroit Lions drafted wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa with the hope he could provide a new weapon for quarterback Jared Goff, but now the third-round pick could be in danger of missing his first game with the team.
Jeremy Reisman of SB Nation’s Pride of Detroit reported that TeSlaa was among three players who missed the team’s first official practice on Tuesday. While it is not clear exactly why TeSlaa was sidelined, his absence could be a concern after the team traded away a trusted veteran in the wide receiver room.
Isaac TeSlaa Expected to Take on Big Role
As Reisman noted, the Lions showed faith in TeSlaa when they parted ways with veteran Tim Patrick after initially placing him on the final 53-man roster.
“After roster cutdowns, the Lions traded away veteran receiver Tim Patrick, leaving many to believe that TeSlaa was in for an early, significant role on offense, and it’s hard to imagine the Lions making that move if the rookie receiver is dealing with a serious injury,” Reisman wrote. “That said, something could have happened between the trade and now.”
With the Lions not providing any official update on TeSlaa, Reisman wrote that it will be another day before the extent of his injury is fully known.
“At this point, we’ll just have to wait until Wednesday’s injury report drops to explain his absence,” Reisman wrote.
TeSlaa had some impressive performances in training camp and the team’s four preseason games, and is coming off a season where he made 28 receptions for 545 yards and three touchdowns at Arkansas.
Lions Getting Another Key Rookie Back Soon
While the Lions may be missing TeSlaa as practice starts, they are getting closer to a return for rookie offensive lineman Miles Frazier. He had been placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list with a knee injury, meaning he will miss at least the first four games of the season.
Frazier took to Instagram this week with an update, showing his locker and a positive three-word statement.
“Back 2 work,” he wrote in the caption, indicating his return to practice.
It appears that Lions rookie G Miles Frazier is starting to practice again after suffering a knee injury last month 👀 pic.twitter.com/6ZXv35hzmG
— 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔇𝔢𝔱𝔯𝔬𝔦𝔱 𝔗𝔦𝔪𝔢𝔰 📰 (@the_det_times) August 31, 2025
As Billy Riccette of USA Today’s Lions Wire noted, Frazier will be eligible to take the field in Week 5 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
“When he does return, he’ll provide quality depth for the Lions up front behind guards Christian Mahogany and rookie Tate Ratledge,” Riccette wrote. “He eventually could work his way into the starting lineup, perhaps not this season, but possibly 2026, at one of the guards spots with Ratledge moving to center after the Georgia rookie spent time at center during the offseason before moving back to guard and Graham Glasgow taking over at center.”
While he may be physically able to play in October, Frazier may need some time to get acclimated and make up for the key portions of training camp he missed, Riccette noted.
“The important thing for Frazier right now is getting reps in practice, after missing all of training camp and the preseason,” Riccette wrote. “Being back at practice now allows him time to develop over the next four weeks before the team is eligible to activate him later this month or early October.”