The Lions came into training camp expecting a big jump from wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa in his second season, but the signs of them have been hard to find this summer.
Reporters at the team's practices have not seen TeSlaa impress against Lions defensive backs and he had a shaky game against the Bengals on Thursday. TeSlaa did not have a catch on three targets that included a drop and a pass that went off his helmet for an interception.
TeSlaa came into camp ticketed for the third receiver role behind Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams and head coach Dan Campbell gave no indication that the uneven play has the team questioning his spot in the pecking order.
“All it takes is a couple of wins,” Campbell said, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “Just a couple of wins at critical times against some guys in practice and then in a game to all of a sudden — boom — skyrockets. It goes back up. So sometimes with a young player, it’s a little bit of that pendulum swing, so he’ll be fine. He’s going to be just fine.”
Campbell said he doesn't feel a need to say anything to TeSlaa other than to "just stay the course" as he tries to adjust to his new role on the team. Should that fail to solve the issues, the Lions might have to revisit their plans come the end of the summer.