Stock report: TeSlaa and Reynolds among those trending up, backup QBs going the other way after Hall of Fame game
Canton, Ohio — Here’s who is trending up, down and staying level after the Detroit Lions’ 34-7 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Thursday’s Hall of Fame game.
Stock up: Wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa
You try to be careful with overreacting to a single preseason performance. Still, after watching TeSlaa practice for a couple of weeks, followed by his showing in his preseason debut, I’m ready to invest in the rookie receiver’s stock. He’s fast, physical, tough, high effort, and possesses exceptional hands.
Sure, there’s some development that needs to take place with the fundamentals of the position, from his releases to his route running, but the learning curve might be flatter than originally anticipated.
TeSlaa checked a lot of boxes in this game. He hauled in two downfield throws, including one where he hung on through contact across the middle. He also flashed his aggressiveness as a blocker in the run game and blew by the jammers as a gunner on punt coverage.
I still don’t know how big a role he can carve out on offense as a rookie, with a depth chart chock full of proven veterans. Regardless, we’re not looking at a player who is going to be a healthy scratch on Sundays like some of the other developmental players the Lions have drafted in recent years.
Stock down: Quarterbacks not named Jared Goff
I didn’t intend to sell you a false bill of goods, but that’s exactly how it feels, given what Kyle Allen and Hendon Hooker put on tape against the Chargers.