Detroit Lions rookie wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa sat quietly at his locker Monday, reflecting on a frustrating sequence of moments from Sunday’s game at Ford Field — a sequence in which he played an unfortunate role.
Late in the Lions’ Week 16 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Detroit’s final offensive possession was marred by two offensive pass interference penalties. The first, and most controversial, was assessed against TeSlaa.
With first-and-goal from the Steelers’ one-yard line, TeSlaa began his route when Pittsburgh cornerback Joey Porter Jr. made contact that nudged him toward safety Kyle Dugger. Dugger then collided more forcefully with TeSlaa as the play developed.
Despite the contact, quarterback Jared Goff delivered what appeared to be a touchdown pass to an uncovered Amon-Ra St. Brown. Instead, officials threw a flag on TeSlaa for offensive pass interference, wiping out the score.
TeSlaa expressed confidence that he executed the play as coached.
“There’s probably a fine waiting if I say too much about the call,” TeSlaa said. “But I did what I was supposed to do. I ran my route correctly and tried to stay clear of the defender. From my perspective, it felt like they ran into me more than the other way around.
“At the end of the day, that’s football. You can’t change the call, so all you can do is move on.”
When asked whether he felt Porter Jr. steered him into the contact, TeSlaa said that was his impression.
“I ran a flat route, and it felt like the corner was connected to my hip and pushed me slightly,” he explained.
“That put me on a collision course with the safety, who was coming full speed. There really wasn’t any way to avoid contact with either of them.”
Following the loss, several Lions players — including quarterback Jared Goff — publicly supported TeSlaa in the locker room. Teammates also tried to encourage the rookie, who had earlier dropped a potential go-ahead touchdown on the same drive.
While Detroit’s 29–24 loss in its regular-season home finale wasn’t solely due to that call, the penalty played a role in halting the Lions’ late comeback attempt. The decision drew attention from analysts such as former NFL coach Rex Ryan and ex-Lions receiver Nate Burleson.
“It’s bigger than just me,” TeSlaa said. “People aren’t defending me personally — they’re defending how the game should be called. We were told officials would be looser on offensive pass interference this season. I knew that as long as I stemmed my route correctly and didn’t initiate contact, I’d be fine. That’s why the flag was so surprising. You could see the reactions from everyone on the field.
“We thought we scored, and then everything changed. It’s disappointing, but I feel like we did everything we could on that final drive. Honestly, it’s the strangest ending to a game I’ve ever experienced.”
With two games remaining in the regular season, TeSlaa is focused on closing out his rookie year positively. He acknowledged that there is still room for improvement but feels more comfortable in his role within the offense.
“There’s always something to clean up,” he said. “But I’ve settled into what I’m asked to do — making plays when the ball comes my way, blocking in the run game, and helping the team however I can. Right now, it’s about locking in and preparing the right way this week.
“Coming out of training camp, I wasn’t sure what my role would be. Staying consistent has helped me earn more opportunities and time on the field. Overall, I’m pleased with how my rookie season has gone in terms of growth and chances to contribute.”
