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Dan Campbell Backs Isaac TeSlaa After Shaky Preseason Opener

Campbell called TeSlaa's drops a recoverable confidence swing that should not cost the receiver his place in the WR pecking order.

Overview

  • TeSlaa failed to catch any of his three targets in the preseason opener, with one pass hitting his facemask and being intercepted and two other targets dropped on third- and fourth-down plays.
  • Coaches and reporters say those concrete game mistakes follow an uneven start to 2026 training camp rather than a sudden decline in ability.
  • Head coach Dan Campbell publicly defended TeSlaa, saying the receiver is confident, likely to respond by working harder, and that a few successful plays in practice can restore his momentum.
  • Reporting indicates TeSlaa remains in the competition for a WR3 role behind Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams and is not currently seen as an immediate roster casualty.
  • TeSlaa enters the evaluation with proven red-zone value from his rookie season — 16 catches, six touchdowns and 239 yards — making consistency in practice and preseason snaps the key factor in how many opportunities he will receive this year.