Last week, Detroit Lions rookie third-round receiver Isaac TeSlaa didn’t play much, but he sure did make a first impression. Despite only playing in three offensive snaps against the Green Bay Packers, he made what could be the highlights of the season with an incredible one-handed touchdown grab.
So why didn’t TeSlaa play more, given he was making plays all during training camp and the preseason, too? Well, the answer is pretty simple: he was sick earlier in the week.
“I think we really wanted to try to get him involved last week but then he got sick and wasn’t – he missed a lot of practice,” coach Dan Campbell said. “So then we didn’t feel comfortable trying to load him up with stuff and so it was going to be very limited. But certainly, we’d like to use him more.”
But the word this week is that the rookie is going to get much more of a chance this week. Offensive coordinator John Morton promised an increased role in Week 2 vs. the Chicago Bears.
“I think his catching ability is big time, I’ve said that before, but he’s smart and he’s tough. He didn’t have a lot of plays in the game but he came in, that was an unbelievable catch. So, his role will be expanded. He will help us,” Morton said on Thursday.
So today’s Question of the Day is:
How much should Isaac TeSlaa play vs. the Bears?
My answer: Obviously, it depends on how much the Lions plan on going into 11 personnel (three receivers on the field). Last week, between TeSlaa and Kalif Raymond, they had 47 snaps out of a total of 67 on offense. That’s nearly two-thirds of the time. While it’s no guarantee the personnel gameplan will be the same against the Bears, it’s a good baseline to start.
While I know we’re all eager to have TeSlaa out there and see what he can do against NFL competition in a full-time role, but he’s still a developing player. So I’d like to see him split that time nearly evenly with Raymond, with the caveat that TeSlaa should be in over Raymond for just about every red zone snap. TeSlaa is a much bigger target, and his ability to come down with contested catches is extremely valuable by the end zone.
So I’m hoping for somewhere around 30% of the snaps for TeSlaa this week, or somewhere around 20 plays.
How much do you want to see TeSlaa this week vs. the Bears? Scroll down to the comment section and explain your answer.
