Make it two preseason games in a row that Lions rookie wide receivers Isaac TeSlaa and Jackson Meeks have found the end zone.
TeSlaa and Meeks' paths to Detroit were very different. The Lions moved up in the third round of this year's NFL Draft to select TeSlaa out of Arkansas after his 19.5 yards per reception average was one of the highest in the SEC last year. Meeks went undrafted out of Syracuse, despite ranking second in the FBS in 2024 with 21 contested catches and having over 1,000 receiving yards for the Orange. A 4.6 40-yard dash time at his pro day likely played a factor in his draft stock.
TeSlaa and Meeks are proving it doesn't matter how a player gets into training camp, it's what they do when they get there.
TeSlaa has had a terrific camp showing the kind of poise, route running ability and hands that are not typical of most rookie receivers. He's a big target at 6-foot-4 and his 4.4 speed allows him to separate from defenders. He's expected to be an early contributor for the Lions.
"As a rookie you never know what to expect but you come in just trying to grind it out and earn the respect of the vets and that's been the biggest goal of mine," TeSlaa said after the game.
TeSlaa has drawn praise from both coaches and veteran teammates for his physicality and blocking ability in the run game. He has had a really strong camp and preseason.
For undrafted players like Meeks, all they want is an opportunity to come in and compete. The Lions gave Meeks that opportunity and he's held up his end of the deal. Lions head coach Dan Campbell said after Saturday's game that Meeks is very much in the conversation for inclusion on the Lions' initial 53-man roster that will be determined in a little over a week.
"He's somebody we feel like has improved every day and every week," Campbell said. "You're always going to take notice of those guys. He's going to be somebody we talk about tomorrow. He's going to come up because he's elevated his play and he is noticed. We'll be discussing him for a while tomorrow."
Meeks said his football journey to the NFL has been an uphill battle from his transfer to Syracuse and then going undrafted in April, but it's made him hungry which has shown on the field all through camp.
"Honestly, I didn't expect anything different in the NFL," Meeks said of his play so far in the preseason. "I wasn't high on draft boards and didn't have a lot of film but at the end of the day, I'm out here showing I can play football whether it's undrafted, first round, second round, it doesn't matter. When you put them pads on and put that helmet on, it's about who is better than who."
BACKUP QUARTERBACK JOB
If Campbell had to play a No. 2 quarterback tomorrow, he said after Saturday's preseason contest that he trusts Kyle Allen a little more than Hendon Hooker at this point.
"He's playing better," Campbell said of Allen after the game. "I would say right now if you had to go in with a No. 2 (quarterback) right now who would you trust more? Yeah, I would trust Kyle more because he's proven more after these two games."
Allen got the start for the Lions Saturday and was terrific playing the entire first half. He had a couple high throws just off the fingers of TeSlaa and Tom Kennedy early on but then settled in nicely and led two touchdown drives. He's been terrific running the two-minute offense each of the last two weeks, recording touchdowns at the end of the first half.
He finished the day with an impressive stat line of 14-of-17 passing for 124 yards with two touchdowns, no interceptions, and a 136.3 passer rating.
"I just think every day I come out to practice or a game, it's just how good can I execute, how good can I do my job," Allen said. "And I know my ability and how good I can be, it's more about just being consistent."
Hooker played the entire second half and finished the afternoon completing six of his 13 pass attempts for 61 yards with a passer rating of 28.0. He led a nice two-minute drive at the end of the game trailing 24-17 where he navigated the offense from the Lions' 39-yard line to the Dolphins' 13-yard line but the drive ended with an athletic interception by Miami's Ethan Robinson.
VAKI BACK
It was good to see second-year running back Sione Vaki back on the field after he has missed time in camp with an injury.
He was one of Detroit's best special teams players as a rookie last year and said after the game he feels a lot more comfortable at running back after making a permanent switch from safety when the Lions drafted last year.
He ran the ball five times for 30 yards with a six-yard average per rush and a long of 14 yards against the Dolphins. He also had a tackle and forced a fumble on special teams.
INJURY UPDATE
Rookie edge rusher Ahmed Hassanein was injured in the third quarter of Saturday's game.
"Out of the (injuries) we had today he's the one that could be a minute," Campbell said. "It could be a little bit. We'll know more in the morning."
