Detroit Lions camp preview: Expanding TeSlaa's opportunities, battle for fifth job highlight WR storylines
Allen Park — When we did a mailbag version of the podcast this summer, one viewer asked, “What’s the Lions strongest position group and why is it wide receiver?”
They weren’t wrong. Maybe the Lions lack jaw-dropping depth at the position, but it’s one of the better starting trios in the NFL, with room to still improve as Jameson Williams and Isaac TeSlaa continue to develop as complementary pieces to multiple-time All-Pro Amon-Ra St. Brown.
St. Brown has been a model of consistency during his career. A four-time Pro Bowler, he’s caught between 115-119 balls the past three seasons, averaged 1,392 yards and 12 touchdowns during the stretch, and twice paced the league in first-down catches.
The corps have been bolstered by Williams, a first-round pick in 2022, who turned a developmental corner in his third season. The speedster has topped 1,000 yards the past two years, paired with seven scores each of those campaigns.
TeSlaa was added to the mix last season, and even though he didn’t see a ton of opportunity during his debut, the 6-foot-4, 214-pounder nicely rounds out the group with his big frame and playmaking ability on the outside.
That starting trio stacks up against almost any in the league, matching up well with Cincinnati’s collective of JaMarr Chase, Tee Higgins and Andrei Iosivas, Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and Jauan Jennings, Dallas’ Ceedee Lamb, George Pickens and Ryan Flournoy and Los Angeles’ Puka Nacua, Davante Adams and Jordan Whittingham.
So what questions does Detroit’s corps face this season? We explore as training camp approaches.