Sports
Practice with Lions WR Isaac TeSlaa: One-on-ones and a final-play highlight
ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Each training camp, I try to shadow one Detroit Lions player for an entire day of practice, hoping to offer insight into how the team operates, how certain players are developing and what they’re being asked to do.
This year, I picked second-year wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa. This is one of my favorite exercises of training camp. I end up learning quite a bit, and hopefully readers do, too. Here’s everything I saw from him Sunday.
10:30 a.m.: It’s a humid, gloomy Sunday morning in Allen Park, and TeSlaa begins his day with a special teams drill. TeSlaa, participating on the Lions’ punt team, was tasked with pinning the ball inside the 5-yard line with assistant special teams coach Jett Modkins and a few others. Yes, even starting receivers play special teams over here.
10:35 a.m.: The whole team gets together for stretching. TeSlaa sprints to the wide receiver line.
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10:38 a.m.: Skill players break away for a contact drill after stretching. Three practice pads are placed on the ground. The skill player must shuffle feet in a circle low to the ground, pop up, then burst through hanging weighted bags to simulate contact.
10:42 a.m.: Time for the individual period. Receivers run over to the far sideline for a series of drills, led by receivers coach/assistant head coach Scottie Montgomery. TeSlaa is first in line for each drill today. On the initial drill, receivers are asked to run a quick out, as they await a pass. There are practice dummies lined up in front of their route. The ball is thrown between the dummies. It’s a concentration drill that asks receivers to make catches through chaos. TeSlaa catches the ball on both of his attempts.
10:45 a.m.: Montgomery is explaining the next drill. Receivers are asked to run a hitch, but when they work back to the ball, they must fight through a pair of practice dummies, evade a towel tossed in their face and make the catch. Another concentration drill. Montgomery is emphasizing that this morning — as he has most of training camp. Again, TeSlaa catches both attempts.
10:50 a.m.: Individual period is over. The QBs, WRs, RBs and TEs gather for routes versus air. The Lions set up their QB-WR pairing based on the depth chart. TeSlaa, Jameson Williams (not at practice Sunday) and Amon-Ra St. Brown typically catch passes from Jared Goff. Up first: hitch routes. Receivers run 5 to 7 yards, cut inside, catch the ball and turn upfield. Easy enough.
10:52 a.m.: Same thing, this time with slants. No problem for No. 18. However, Montgomery has words for TeSlaa — or “Tes,” as he calls him — reminding him to turn upfield.
10:54 a.m.: Next up, corner routes. TeSlaa catches his, tiptoes the sideline, then turns upfield. The crowd likes what it sees.
10:56 a.m.: Ending the period with more hitch routes. Goff points out TeSlaa, indicating he wants him for the rep. Goff fires off the throw with velocity before TeSlaa is out of his break. His pass appears to catch TeSlaa off guard, but he reels it in, stumbles and turns upfield. However, a do-over follows. It’s unclear who initiated the repeat, but the second time around, Lions offensive coordinator Drew Petzing verbally approves.
10:57 a.m.: Quick water break. It’s still cloudy, humid and muggy. A couple sips, a couple drips down the shoulder pads, then back to work.
10:58 a.m.: Time for one-on-ones with DBs. Admittedly, this is where TeSlaa has struggled in camp. He’s a bigger receiver with 4.43 speed, but Lions cornerbacks are physical and know how to play man coverage. They’ll jam you at the line of scrimmage, make you work through contact and come down with contested catches. It’s a good test for a young receiver like TeSlaa.
“The biggest thing is just using my size,” TeSlaa told me. “Obviously, I can watch guys like Jamo and Saint run these routes, but it’s gonna look different for me because I’m a bigger body. I’ve got more to move. I’m a little bit bigger, heavier. It’s not a disadvantage; it’s just a difference in body type, receiver type. I’m just learning what works for me and just adding that to my game.”
10:58 a.m.: It’s time for the first of two reps for TeSlaa. His initial matchup? Veteran Rock Ya-Sin. TeSlaa is running a go route down the right sideline, with Goff throwing to him. Goff lofts a 50-50 ball high in the air, giving his receiver a chance to come down with it. TeSlaa uses his size and vertical to high-point the ball, has it in his hands, but can’t come down with it. Ya-Sin fights hard to knock it out as gravity pulls them down. The crowd reacts excitedly to what would’ve been the highlight of the day before the ball pops loose. Montgomery has some words for TeSlaa. Hard to fault him, but we’ve seen him come down with those before.
11 a.m.: Time for TeSlaa’s second one-on-one rep. Goff and TeSlaa discuss what they want to run, then TeSlaa lines up on the outside versus Khalil Dorsey. TeSlaa runs a hitch, but it’s almost as if Dorsey knows it’s coming. Dorsey, draped over TeSlaa, breaks up the pass without hesitation. Excellent rep for him. TeSlaa lines up for one more rep, but the period ends before his third attempt.
11:05 a.m.: After some kickoff work, the first-team offense takes the field from its own 1-yard line. It’s a situational period to simulate the offense being backed up in its own territory. Jahmyr Gibbs gets the ball on a rush attempt, with TeSlaa blocking cornerback D.J. Reed on the outside. On the next play, Aidan Hutchinson gets in the backfield on a checkdown to Gibbs. Personally, I’d call it a sack. On the next play, TeSlaa runs a crosser on a pass to St. Brown. TeSlaa exits the field. When it’s time to check back in, he goes in motion before a block attempt. His final rep in the period is a post route, though he isn’t targeted. After the first-team offense was done, TeSlaa takes a knee on the sideline by himself.
I noticed TeSlaa spent a lot of his day by himself. Admittedly, I wasn’t sure whether it was intentional — if he’s a guy who likes to be alone — or it was just one of those days. I made sure to ask.
“It depends on the day,” TeSlaa said. “Today was kind of a bigger workload for me. Without Jamo practicing, I had to switch to the X. I’ve been repping Z since the beginning of OTAs, so I was trying to lock in as much as possible. Most of the time, I like to have fun out there with the guys. … I was like, ‘I gotta be on my s— today.’”
Some good context from TeSlaa. The fact that a receiver as young as TeSlaa is asked to handle both positions on the fly speaks to the Lions’ trust in him.
TeSlaa protects the ball while running through a drill during a Lions practice earlier in training camp. (Junfu Han / Imagn Images)
11:18 a.m.: The Lions mixed in quite a bit of special teams work over the next hour or so of practice, but they were back out for a team period about a quarter past 11. TeSlaa takes the field with the first-team offense, but he isn’t targeted. St. Brown catches a quick out from Goff, Sione Vaki takes a carry up the middle, and just like that, TeSlaa is out.
11:20 a.m.: TeSlaa, on the sideline, is about to run back in. After three steps, he stops, retreats to the sideline, then playfully shoves assistant WRs coach Bruce Gradkowski. Looks like a false alarm. The two have fun with it, and TeSlaa checks in for the next play.
11:22 a.m.: TeSlaa and St. Brown are lined up on the same side of the field, and they run routes that have them end up in a similar spot. Looks like a possible miscommunication. The two discuss after the play, and St. Brown slaps the back of TeSlaa’s helmet as they reach an understanding and jog to the sideline.
11:25 a.m.: Rain starts to fall. Before long, it’s pouring. Nothing like 85-degree weather and rain on a Sunday in the Midwest. Reporters run for cover. It’s hard to take notes on wet pages, but we power through. Another special teams period that lasts for roughly 15 minutes.
11:40 a.m.: Another team period. TeSlaa takes the field with the first-team offense, but there isn’t much to see. Hutchinson blows up the opening play for a sack. On the next play, TeSlaa blocks Ennis Rakestraw Jr. on a run play, away from the action. On the play after that, Hutchinson sacks Goff again, bull-rushing Penei Sewell into QB1 and forcing him to the ground. The crowd didn’t love it, but everyone was OK. Monster day for Hutch, in case that wasn’t clear. TeSlaa briefly checks out before returning a few plays later. He runs a hitch route, as Goff is flushed out of the pocket. TeSlaa changes his route and tries to work back to his QB on the run. Good instincts, but Goff opts for St. Brown instead. Pass falls incomplete.
11:50 a.m.: Red zone period. Not much work for TeSlaa. He runs a corner route and isn’t targeted. He goes in motion and blocks on a run to Gibbs. Goff finds Gibbs on a screen without much room to work. A good showing for the defense.
I was curious to hear TeSlaa’s thoughts on the lack of targets in team periods. Up to this point, I don’t recall a single ball going his way. Is it frustrating when the ball doesn’t find him?
“I don’t expect the ball every play,” TeSlaa said. “We’ve got way too much talent on this offense to expect that. I’m just gonna do what I can, whether it’s trying to get myself open or running routes to get other guys open. I’m just gonna try to do my part, and when the ball comes my way, I just gotta make plays.”
His patience paid off in a major way as practice came to an end.
12:16 p.m.: Here’s the situation. The score is 27-21. The offense is down and needs a touchdown to win. After a few plays, it’s fourth-and-12 from the 17-yard line. Time is winding down. It’s a gotta-have-it moment. TeSlaa is lined up on the outside against Rakestraw, who’s in man coverage. Goff checks TeSlaa’s route to a fade, and TeSlaa is ready for his close-up. The ball is snapped, Goff lofts it down the left sideline and lets his big-bodied receiver make a play. TeSlaa comes down with the ball in the end zone, spikes it and is swarmed by Sam LaPorta and others. The crowd erupts. I ask TeSlaa to walk me through it.
“JG changed my route to a fade,” TeSlaa told me. “Saw the guy press, so I just, you know, won at the line. Was big and physical, shed him off me, got my eyes up and then the ball — you know, sometimes you think you can track those like that (demonstrates an over-the-shoulder catch), but I prefer just going up and getting stuff. Just rising above the defender and snatching it away from him.”
12:20 p.m.: Dan Campbell huddles the team. Practice is over.
TeSlaa has a ton of natural talent, which is why the Lions traded several picks to move up for him in the 2025 NFL Draft. He also has a lot to learn as a second-year receiver. It’s nothing new. I wrote a similar piece on Williams in 2023, and it’s astonishing how far he’s come since.
There are going to be ups and downs, days when the ball comes his way and days when it doesn’t. But TeSlaa has the right mindset for a player who isn’t the focal point of this offense. As he grows into his role as a first-year starter, he’ll remember days like Sunday.
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New Scotland boss Sebastien Pocognoli says the passionate nature of Scottish football was a key factor in him taking the job.
Pocognoli, 39, was confirmed as Steve Clarke’s successor on Sunday and introduced himself to the media on Monday.
Clarke ended his seven-year reign earlier this summer after Scotland failed to progress from the World Cup group stage after a victory over Haiti was followed by defeats to Morocco and Brazil.
Former Belgium defender Pocognoli left Monaco at the end of last season and previously led Union Saint-Gilloise to their first league title in 90 years in 2024-25.
He becomes just the second foreign boss of the Scotland men’s team, after the German Berti Vogts, and believes he has what it takes to build on Clarke’s “strong foundation”.
“I’m very proud to be here,” Pocognoli said, flanked by Scottish FA chiefs Ian Maxwell and Craig Mulholland at his introduction.
“It’s a very strong challenge, with a project to develop the future of Scottish football. There are the metrics, but the human aspect was also very important. I never go to a challenge where I can’t feel the connection.
“Scotland is a passionate country and I think also, regarding the strong foundation that Steve Clarke and his staff laid, that I can use this heritage to put the next accent on the style of play while also developing players for the future.
“That’s why I’m here.”
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Good morning. RIP, Tommy John. Coming up:
How? Daniel Jones and the bionic tendon
So many things happen during the course of an NFL season that it’s easy to forget specifics. A lot can happen in 272 regular-season games.
So forgive me if I read this story and immediately thought: Remember when Philip Rivers came out of retirement last year? After four years away? That was wild.
It’s not just a random memory, because why Rivers came back — to help the Colts try to limp across the playoff finish line — matters immensely this season. Indianapolis started 7-1 last season, led by a surprise MVP push from newcomer QB Daniel Jones. The Colts finished 8-9, losing their last four games after Jones tore his Achilles tendon in Week 14.
Well under a year later, the 29-year-old is back and on track to start Week 1. Wait, what?
- Jones, apparently, looks completely healed in practice. He is not playing the preseason out of wise precaution. Two sources told The Athletic’s Jonathan Jones that the quarterback “looked like he never suffered an injury.” To be clear: This specific ailment can end a career.
- There may be no more important quarterback in the league this year. Jones proved last season that his time with the Giants was merely about growth and not his fully realized form. But it’s easy to wonder if last year’s brilliant stretch was a fluke. This is a talented roster with legitimate playoff dreams, all hinging on Jones’ play.
Take some time to read the full story this morning, including fascinating bits about how Jones is one of the fastest quarterbacks we’ve ever seen.
Details: Why did Mark Walter sell the Lakers?
Ever since the news broke, there’s been a weird pall around the Lakers sale. Sure, Mark Walter sold the Lakers at a $2.5 billion markup. But selling the Lakers? After a year? Something doesn’t smell right.
In a big investigative piece out this morning, Alex Andrejev, Melody Gutierrez and Rebecca Tauber spotlighted some reasons why. Two things I took away:
- Walter himself is interesting, a fabulously wealthy man with little nose for the spotlight who owned two of the world’s most valuable sports franchises. Most wouldn’t recognize him in a crowd, and yet he had amassed an incredible amount of sports capital.
- Now, the spotlight has found him. Two of Walter’s companies, both insurance businesses, are under federal scrutiny via both the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Securities and Exchange Commission. Some of the transactions under investigation involve his sports teams.
Read their full investigation here. And consider the story developing until further notice.
News to Know
Frederic J. Brown / AFP via Getty Images
Taurasi immortalized
The Mercury retired Diana Taurasi’s No. 3 yesterday in a heartwarming ceremony, as one of the best basketball players to ever live got her due all day. The street outside Phoenix’s arena was named after her, a mural went up over the weekend and the team inducted her into its Ring of Honor. All hail Diana.
Miller picks Dallas
As if we need a surer sign that NFL training camps are nearing their end: Seasoned veteran Von Miller agreed to sign with the Cowboys yesterday, bolstering an already impressive defensive line and Dallas’ playoff hopes this year, should Miller stay healthy. Miller, 37, was one of the big-name veterans clearly waiting out the early camp period to choose a team. Read more here.
John dead at 83
Eight days after releasing a goodbye letter, former Yankees pitcher Tommy John — most famous for the elbow surgery named after him — died at his home in Florida. He was 83 years old. John played for a stunning 26 seasons. As Ian O’Connor remembers, John was a flamethrower of a different kind.
More news:
- An absolute stunner we missed from late Saturday: Katie Ledecky lost an 800-meter freestyle race at an international meet for the first time in 14 years.
- Vikings safety Jamal Adams will miss the entire 2026 season with a knee injury sustained in a preseason game over the weekend. Brutal.
- Tough start for Highmark Stadium, the Bills’ new digs. One player’s review: “The field is ass right now.” Welp.
- World No. 1 men’s golfer Scottie Scheffler finally won another tournament. It had been seven whole months.
- Cameroon is the WAFCON champion after a 3-0 win over Malawi yesterday. Impressive, but even more so when you learn the team didn’t initially qualify.
- Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson is heading to the injured list with an oblique issue. It’s a tough blow for a surging Chicago crew.
- A jersey worn by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at UCLA sold for $1.25 million. It was traded for a transistor radio 50 years ago.
Watch Guide
📺 Soccer: Wrexham at Cardiff City
3 p.m. ET on Paramount+
Love them or hate them, Wrexham begins their second season one step away from the Premier League. It’s a long run, but this is a good opportunity to watch more soccer and tune in for one of the sport’s more interesting stories this year.
📺 MLB: Tigers at Pirates
7 p.m. ET on ESPN
Detroit is most interesting here, 5 1/2 games back in the AL Central and just one back in the AL wild card. Pittsburgh, as we’ve noted, is fading. The Tigers desperately need a win after three straight losses.
📺 WNBA: Wings at Valkyries
10 p.m. ET on Peacock and NBC Sports Network
We’ve been in on the Valks for a bit, but here’s a great opportunity to catch them before a playoff run. Going against Paige Bueckers and Dallas is a good matchup, too.
Pulse Picks
Want to know what life is like for college agents in the NIL era? There are no rules, as detailed in a great piece this morning. And most of them like it that way.
I can’t get enough of Joshua Báez, who had the best MLB debut we’ve ever seen. We have a full introduction to the rookie.
I loved this story from Fluto Shinzawa on the single test that can determine an NHL player’s future.
One swimming name you need to remember from the Pan Pacific Championships: Kate Douglass, the fastest woman in the world.
Most-clicked in the newsletter yesterday: The initial story of Báez’s MLB debut.
Most-read on the website yesterday: Ledecky’s loss.
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There is no shortage of interest in a given English Premier League season. The EPL is a cultural phenomenon and an institution of its sport, with top-line talents from all across the planet.
But this upcoming 2026-27 campaign will definitely bring in North American converts fresh off their World Cup rush. Gunners are born before our eyes, as new Erling Haaland fans go from Norway’s “Viking Row” to Manchester City’s “Blue Moon.” Some will never walk alone again. A few might even get stung by the Bees at the bus stop.
Last season’s blockbuster between Arsenal and Man City became the most-watched Premier League match in U.S. history. That record could be broken in the months to come. Haaland’s side tries to get back on top, while Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka headline Arsenal’s first championship defense bid in more than two decades. Bruno Fernandes and Manchester United start somewhere below them in the title mix, alongside brand names like Liverpool and Chelsea.
Here’s a quick rundown on how EPL broadcasts work, first in the United States and then in Canada. Be sure to follow the Premier League on The Athletic, and sign up for The Athletic FC newsletter to keep up with the beautiful game.
All times below are ET.
You can watch Premier League and other live soccer matches with Fubo (Stream Free Now).
Emma Paton previews the Premier League
NBC
The terrestrial channel is racking up live sports viewership this year between the Super Bowl, Winter Olympics and renewed NBA coverage. Now comes the return of the Premier League. Sometimes, NBC will get one weekend showcase (often a Saturday spot at 12:30 p.m.). Other matchweeks are confined to the cable and streaming subsidiaries.
NBC Sports’ lead studio show is “Premier League Live.” It stars host Rebecca Lowe and former players Robbie Earle, Robbie Mustoe and Tim Howard.
What you’ll need to watch these matches: NBC is free over the air with a TV antenna. It’s also included with pay TV packages (around $85-125 per month) or a Peacock subscription (the “Premium” option with live sports goes for $10.99/month).
Peacock and NBCSN
NBC coverage streams on Peacock, but the streamer has its own exclusives throughout the season. Some live Peacock matches are also on linear TV through NBCSN, or NBCSN Extra on YouTube TV.
Peacock offers a multiview option in its app, with a “key plays” feature for late viewers trying to catch up. Spanish-language coverage can also be streamed on Peacock.
“The Men in Blazers Show” is a part of Peacock’s programming. The irreverence is anchored by Roger Bennett. Last season’s many celebrity cameos included comedian Trevor Noah, rapper Big Boi and NFL coach Sean McVay. Liverpool obsessive (and penalty specialist) John Oliver has been a regular guest over the years.
What you’ll need to watch these matches: NBCSN is included with some pay TV sports packages. The matches exclusive to Peacock require an active “Premium” subscription (starting at $10.99/month). College students can get 12 months of Peacock for $5.99/month.
USA Network
A lot of Premier League matches land on USA, in addition to the network’s new deal with the German Bundesliga.
As of 2026, USA Network is now a Versant Media property and no longer under the NBC umbrella. That means its games don’t stream on Peacock. The USA app offers mobile and smart TV access for those with multichannel cable, satellite or streaming logins.
What you’ll need to watch these matches: USA is included in most pay TV bases.
Overflow networks (CNBC, Golf Channel, Syfy)
Soccer on the science fiction hub? Let’s leave “Galactik Football” out of this. It’s rare, but Versant channels like Syfy can be used for EPL coverage.
Both Syfy and CNBC had matches during last season’s “Championship Sunday” finale. In the past, Golf Channel has aired the occasional game as well. Those networks have their own apps, but like USA, they are not over-the-top services — you need pay TV credentials to use them.
What you’ll need to watch these matches: CNBC, Golf Channel and Syfy are included in most pay TV bases.
Telemundo and Universo
These two are on a hot streak. On Telemundo and Universo, the World Cup became the biggest Spanish-language sporting event in American history, per Nielsen. The networks have since added exclusive U.S. Spanish-language TV rights for UEFA competitions, which kick in for the 2027-28 season.
This is how EPL fans can see and hear Spanish broadcasts on linear TV. As always, the “gooooooool” calls for Premier League strikes are positively electric.
What you’ll need to watch these matches: Telemundo is free over the air, and Universo is available through most pay TV plans.
How to watch the Premier League in Canada
While NBC Sports has U.S. broadcasts through 2028, Fubo lands those EPL rights for Canadian audiences. The streamer’s sports bundle includes all Italian Serie A matches and some matchups in the Bundesliga, Ligue 1 (French domestic) and Concacaf (North/Central American international). The “sports pro” bundle also comes with DAZN, which has UEFA soccer.
What you’ll need to watch these matches: In Canada, Fubo’s quarterly sports plan is $44.97 total for the first three months, then $83.97 for each subsequent three-month period. The “sports pro” option is $134.97 total for the first three months and $149.97 every three months after that.
EPL Matchweek 1 on U.S. television
Here’s a look at how this all comes together for a full slate.
Friday, Aug. 21 (season opener)
- Arsenal vs. Coventry City — 3 p.m. on USA
Saturday, Aug. 22
- Hull City vs. Manchester United — 7:30 a.m. on USA
- Everton vs. Crystal Palace — 10 a.m. on USA
- Nottingham Forest vs. Leeds United — 10 a.m. on Peacock and NBCSN
- Ipswich Town vs. Sunderland — 10 a.m. on Peacock and NBCSN Extra
- Brentford vs. Tottenham Hotspur — 12:30 p.m. on NBC and Peacock
Sunday, Aug. 23
- Manchester City vs. Bournemouth — 9 a.m. on USA
- Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Aston Villa — 9 a.m. on Peacock
- Newcastle United vs. Liverpool — 11:30 a.m. on USA
Monday, Aug. 24
- Fulham vs. Chelsea — 3 p.m. on USA
What you’ll need to watch these matches: Most pay TV plans include all of those networks except Peacock. A subscription is required for the Peacock exclusives.
EPL schedule overview
The Premier League has 380 total fixtures across 38 matchweeks. All 20 EPL members get one home and one road matchup against each opponent.
Breaks are built into the schedule for international play. Here’s where they fall during the Premier League season:
- Monday, Sept. 21 to Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026
- Monday, Nov. 9 to Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2026
- Monday, March 22 to Tuesday, March 30, 2027
This season’s winter transfer window opens Jan. 1, 2027, and closes one month later on Feb. 1. The campaign concludes on May 30, with all 10 “Championship Sunday” matches starting at the same time.
2025-26 Premier League leaders
- Goals — Erling Haaland, Manchester City, with 27
- Assists — Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United, with 21
- Clean sheets — David Raya, Arsenal, with 19
- Total tackles — James Garner, Everton, with 120
Streaming links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.
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