After showcasing some of his potential as a rookie with a knack for making big plays in limited opportunities, tight end Isaac TeSlaa is entering his second season with high expectations.

One of the biggest endorsements yet came from Lions legend and Hall of Fame receiver Calvin Johnson. During an interview with Woodward Sports, Johnson compared Isaac to himself, drawing a parallel to his own legendary Megatron playing days.

“I didn’t realize how big he was until I started getting to camp. He’s like 6-foot-4 or something like that. He looks like he might be a 215, 220 almost frame,” said Johnson. “He reminds me a lot of myself, just a big frame.”

Isaac is 6-foot-4, 214 lbs, and has impressed Johnson with his ability to attack the ball in the air.

“He surprises the heck out of me every time he gets the ball in the air,” said Johnson. “A 50/50 ball, because he makes a play, and they’re crazy plays. One-handers and things like that.”

In his rookie season, Isaac had 16 receptions, 239 receiving yards and six touchdowns in three starts. In comparison, Johnson had 48 receptions, 756 yards and four touchdowns in 10 starts in his rookie season (2007).

So, Megatron knows how it feels to start your second season in the league.

“I’m excited because I know after that first year as a receiver, you tend to gain a lot of confidence going into the second year,” said Johnson. “The second year is a big year for a receiver, so expecting a lot out of him and he should have high expectations of himself.”

The Lions' offense already has multiple playmakers. If Johnson's expectations are met by TeSlaa, the Lions could have another dangerous weapon in their arsenal.

That said, as the mandatory training camp gets closer, all eyes will be on a star tight end who was injured last season.

Sam LaPorta Named As Player To Keep Eyes On

Sam LaPorta has been a key figure for the Lions since he was drafted in the second round of the 2023 Draft. There have been many discussions about his contract extension, with his contract expiring at the end of the season.

However, LaPorta suffered a back injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the year.

Christian Booher of Sports Illustrated recently named 10 players to watch during the Lions’ 2026 mandatory minicamp, where LaPorta was also mentioned.

“This week, it will be worth monitoring exactly how much action he gets offensively, and how the team feels about where he’ll be when training camp rolls around,” wrote Booher. “He’s a huge part of the offense, and the fact that he’s in a contract year adds intrigue. If the Lions feel confident about his health, that could push them to get a deal done.”

Do you think LaPorta can return to his Pro Bowl form? Let us know in the comments!

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Written by

Dhruv Vishnu Nair

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore