Wide Receivers Coach Scottie Montgomery has spoken highly of TeSlaa’s offseason progress, suggesting the young pass catcher is just scratching the surface of his potential. Montgomery highlighted TeSlaa’s footwork and speed, noting his ability to become a bigger and more versatile 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. That gives, of course, Goff, just an even bigger window to throw the football,” Montgomery said. He also praised TeSlaa’s offseason work, particularly his improved route top ends, shorter breaks, and overall strength.
In his rookie season, TeSlaa played all 17 games, recording 239 receiving yards on 16 receptions (14.9 yards per catch) and contributing six touchdowns. Looking ahead to his sophomore year, TeSlaa emphasized that the offseason training has helped him regain his explosiveness and readiness for the upcoming challenges. “I felt like that really helped me get my body back and kind of restore some of that twitchiness I had before,” he said, noting that the training and receiver drills have prepared him well.
Head Coach Dan Campbell also expressed strong support for TeSlaa’s development. Slated to be the third wide receiver on the depth chart behind Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, TeSlaa earned considerable praise from Campbell for his growth during his first season. Campbell remarked that he wished TeSlaa had received more opportunities, but attributed his improvement to steady weekly progress and growing trust from the coaching staff and teammates.
As the Lions prepare for another year, TeSlaa’s development will be a key storyline to watch. If he continues to build on the gains from last season and translate offseason work into on-field production, he could become a reliable complementary option in Detroit’s passing attack and a valuable asset in the team’s pursuit of a return to the postseason.
