Tyleik Williams may not pile up big pass-rush numbers, but Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard is counting on the rookie defensive tackle to play an important role in Sunday’s season opener against the Green Bay Packers.
“I’m expecting to see a violent, physical, big man strike and knock people back,” Sheppard said. “We know his playmaking ability, but I just keep reminding him, D-tackles don’t necessarily make plays that show up on the stat sheet.”
Williams took first-team reps all summer at the defensive tackle spot next to D.J. Reader and should fill a starting role at least until Alim McNeill returns from his torn ACL around midseason.
The No. 28 pick of the first round, Williams was known primarily as a run-stuffer in college. And while Lions coaches have said he’s underrated as a pass rusher – Williams had five sacks as a freshman in 2021 and 11½ in his four seasons at Ohio State – Sheppard said it’s important to temper expectations in that department for now.
“You have to remind him of that cause he was a dominant player at Ohio State and he’s used to racking up stats on the stat sheet,” Sheppard said. “Just understanding what we need from him and that’s to be who he is within our system and what we’re asking him to do. But first and foremost if you play on our defensive line we expect you to knock people back violently, be able to sit down against double teams, hold in there thick and firm and he’s showed that all camp. I’m very excited for that player to see him out there in Lambeau.”
Golden evaluation
Sheppard said the Lions’ No. 1 defensive objective this week is to stop Josh Jacobs and a Packers’ rushing attack that ranked fifth in the NFL last season. But the first-year coordinator has unique insight on rookie Packers receiver Matthew Golden and the role he’s expected to play in Green Bay’s offense.
Lions coach Dan Campbell had Sheppard evaluate several offensive prospects in the buildup to April’s draft as a way to help prepare him to be a head coach one day. One of the prospects Sheppard studied was Golden, who went 23rd overall to the Packers in the first round.
“He’s a very electric player,” Sheppard said. “He’s one of the fastest guys in the league. I believe he was the fastest guy this year coming out and he’s a very explosive player. He’s a big component of their offense. I already know that without seeing a clip, because of the dynamic that he provides and then you got that monster in No. 8 (Jacobs) in the backfield.”
Golden, who ran a 4.29-second 40-yard dash at the combine, led Texas with 987 yards receiving on 58 catches last season.
Sheppard said the Lions’ defense should be well prepared for Golden’s playmaking ability after practicing against Jameson Williams all summer.
“It’s prepared us,” Sheppard said. “But we understand the challenge at hand.”
TeSlaa No. 3?
Kalif Raymond worked as the Lions’ No. 3 receiver throughout training camp, but Lions offensive coordinator John Morton was effusive in his praise of rookie Isaac TeSlaa when asked about the team’s No. 3 receiver Thursday.
“I think TeSlaa did a great job in training camp here in practice and he made plays,” Morton said. “I mean, he got better every single day, it carried over to the game. We thought he did an unbelievable job. He’s a smart kid, he’s tough, there’s some good things that he can do that’s going to help us this year.”
TeSlaa caught 10 passes for 146 yards in four preseason games for the Lions. His emergence paved the way for the Lions to trade last year’s No. 3 receiver, Tim Patrick, to the Jacksonville Jaguars after roster cuts.
“He took advantage of the opportunity when Tim was out,” Morton said. “Tim will be missed. I was around Tim in Denver. I love him and he’s an unbelievable teammate and wish him the best.”
Give and receive
Along with his role on offense, TeSlaa is expected to see significant time on special teams for the Lions this fall.
“He’s a good body type,” Lions special teams coordinator Dave Fipp said. “He’s got some size and some length, he’s got some speed, so that’s huge. I mean, for us on special teams, sometimes there’s just nothing you can do if a guy can just flat run and a guy just can’t run. It’s hard for the guy who can’t run to match the guy who can run, and he can run so that gives him a chance to play some of these positions on the outside.”
Apart from Raymond as punt returner, the Lions have gotten minimal special-teams contributions from their receivers in recent years. That should change this fall, with one of TeSlaa or fellow rookie Dominic Lovett starting at gunner opposite Khalil Dorsey and both having the ability to play on punt return.
Fipp said Lovett “brings a lot to the table” on special teams, though what role he and TeSlaa ultimately fill will depend in part on what they’re asked to do on offense.
“It’ll end up being kind of like it comes down to every year,” Fipp said. “Here’s the, whatever, 48 guys you get to work with on gameday and then how can you make the best group out of those 48 managing their volume on offense and defense and making sure you’re not wearing them out.”
Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions notes: Don’t judge Tyleik Williams on sacks; Is Isaac TeSlaa No. 3 WR?
Reporting by Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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