Amon-Ra St Brown – Lions Lowdown

Lions training camp notes: Rookie WRs continue to impress; Anzalone is back

ALLEN PARK — Two Lions rookie wide receivers — Isaac TeSlaa and Dominic L0vett — have been turning heads through the first six days of training camp.

Saturday wrapped up with a 30-yard pass to TeSlaa from Hendon Hooker for a potential touchdown. The fans in the stands loved it.

Earlier Lovett, who was double-covered, made an amazing catch during team drills.

Those were the highlights, but there were more impressive plays from the two.

“I would say both of them mentally have done a pretty good job. They picked it up pretty good, Scottie (Montgomery, wide receivers coach) is doing a heckuva job with him,’’ coach Dan Campbell said prior to Saturday’s workout.

“They’re getting all the reps, the mental, the walk-through and they take it on the field. I would say Lovett has popped more early out on the field, but I thought TeSlaa had a really good day (Friday). I can see the uptick now with him so he’s got to stack another good day but that was good to see and that was the first day of pads,’’ the coach added.

TeSlaa, who grew up a Lions fan in Hudsonville, Mich., was drafted in the third round out of Arkansas, while Lovett was a seventh-round pick out of Georgia.

One or both have a shot at making the 53-man roster, especially if they can contribute on special teams.

“They’re doing good. I think we’re excited to see these young guys come in. The offense isn’t the easiest. We have a lot of moving parts but they’re doing a great job of getting the whole offense, getting an idea of the offense, going out there making plays,’’ wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown said.

As a veteran he said he tries to answer they questions and give them tips and reminders.

“At the end of the day I want them to play fast, don’t worry too much about being a rookie, trying to impress the coaches, just go out there and play,’’ St. Brown said.

NOTES: Linebacker Alex Anzalone practiced for the first time since the start of training camp. He was sitting out with a hamstring. He is seeking a contract extension which is not done and he didn’t want to speak to the specifics.

— Martha Firestone Ford attended practice with her daughter Sheila Ford Hamp, principal owner and chair. Loud thanks were yelled from the fans when their golf cart stopped in front of the bleachers.

— With the Hall of Fame game just days away, Campbell wants to see his rookies in game action. “I think all of those guys need to play in the game or games. I think our young guys, I see them playing in this game. Am I going to say it’s written in stone? No, I’m not. But I’d like to play those guys,’’ Campbell said. The Hall of Fame game on Thursday, July 31, in Canton, Ohio, is the first of four preseason games.

— Campbell was pleased with the first padded practice on Friday. “Loved the energy, we’ve got a lot to clean up but it was good. I thought they went back and forth, we got a little better on both sides of the ball which is what you’re looking for,’’ Campbell said on Saturday morning.

(UP NEXT: Lions have a day off on Sunday and then continue training camp on Monday.)

Lions move up to draft WR Isaac TeSlaa in the third round

TeSlaa grew up in western Michigan as a Lions fan

ALLEN PARK — The Lions traded up 32 spots in the third round Friday night to draft wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa, who grew up in Hudsonville as a Lions fan.

In fact, he showed up at his pre-draft visit to the Lions wearing a Lions No. 10 Lions jersey with his own name across the back. This was a head-scratcher for GM Brad Holmes until he heard TeSlaa’s explanation that he had it since eighth grade and couldn’t imagine a better time to wear it.

Of course, that is not why he was drafted at 70th overall.

“Saw him at the Senior Bowl and hadn’t watched his film yet. Just saw how he was in the team periods, his blocking, his size, he was just being a pest, he was pissing off the DB defenders,’’ Holmes said. “Obviously it made me want to completely watch the tape. You see a guy who’s a big, long, smooth strider, can accelerate, can run, he’s a hands catcher. Can play special teams and block, he can do a lot of things.’’

TeSlaa spent three seasons at Division II Hillsdale College before transferring to Arkansas in 2023. He’s a big receiver (6-4, 214 pounds) who averaged 19.5 yards per catch in 2024 and ran a 4.3 in the 40 at the Combine where he opened more than a few eyes.

The Lions have a solid wide receiver group that includes Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, but TeSlaa will add youth and another target for new offensive coordinator John Morton.

TeSlaa played mostly at slot in 2024 but Holmes said he has the tools to play outside.

“Obviously it’s been not only a dream to play in the NFL but to play for my hometown team, the team I’ve been rooting for since I was a baby,’’ TeSlaa said on a conference call. “So it’s an incredible feeling I’m ready to get to work, get to the facility and put the work in.’’

Holmes said that TeSlaa and right guard Tate Ratledge, who was drafted in the second round, were identified early in the process.

Detroit Lions face tough decisions when it comes to wide receivers with roster cuts looming

ALLEN PARK — With the roster cutdown deadline at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell and GM Brad Holmes still have work to do.

“A tough 48 hours coming up, but I really appreciate these guys,’’ Campbell said at noon on Monday.

One position where some tough decisions must be made is at wide receiver. The three locks are Amon Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and Kalif Raymond. It’s uncertain how many they will keep.

Undrafted rookie Isaiah Williams, who wears 83, appears to have earned a roster spot with a consistent, steady showing at training camp.

“You guys know what 83 is, it’s shown up – he’s made plays all camp. He’s really more that slot, he falls into the mode a little bit like Saint (St. Brown), Lif (Raymond) and Tom Kennedy.

Donovan Peoples-Jones, entering his fifth NFL season, and rookie Daurice Fountain, entering his fourth, are also in the mix. Both are 6-feet-2.

“They are big guys, they are big receivers, they’ve got length to them and for their size they can run pretty good,’’ Campbell said. “So there’s that element of that – can you play big-boy ball outside, redzone comes into play. So if you don’t have it (size) you do feel a little small. You feel it would be nice to have the size. You wish that would show up a lot more but that’s what those two guys bring – that’s that type of flavor that we talk about all the time. We would love to have a little bit of everything – you’ve got speed, you’ve got quickness, you’ve got size, gadget.’’

Campbell said he and Holmes have many questions to weigh.

“Have we seen enough out of those guys to where we feel like we can use them or need to use them sooner than later. Or will they provide value depth or role players? The other thing is special teams, how much do they bring on special teams,’’ Campbell said. “I don’t know it’s tough to say. It will all come into play.’’