Lions QB Kyle Allen, rookie WR Isaac TeSlaa solidify roster chances in 26-7 preseason loss to Texans

DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Lions believe they have found the backup quarterback and depth receiver they were looking for this preseason.

Kyle Allen threw a 33-yard, go-ahead touchdown pass late in the first quarter to rookie Isaac TeSlaa, solidifying their roles with the Lions in a 26-7 loss against the Houston Texans in the preseason on Saturday.

“I was pleased with both of those guys,” Detroit coach Dan Campbell said. “It’s good to see Kyle really take it to where he’s gone.”

Allen has established himself as Jared Goff's backup, beating out Hendon Hooker, and TeSlaa earned a spot in the receiver rotation behind Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams.

Detroit drafted the 6-foot-4, 214-pound TeSlaa in the third round even though he had just 28 catches for 545 yards and three touchdowns last season for Arkansas and he has validated the franchise’s faith in him.

TeSlaa produced in practices as well as games, with 10 receptions for 146 yards and three touchdowns.

“There’s a place for him to help us early in this season,” Campbell said.

Texans rookie Graham Mertz, meanwhile, made a bid to earn a spot on a 53-man roster or at least an invite to be on a practice team.

“I'm really proud of Graham with the way he commanded the offense," Houston coach DeMeco Ryans said. "He was under control. He did a really nice job of moving the ball up and down the field.”

Mertz was 14 of 16 for 145 yards with a 6-yard touchdown pass to former Lions receiver Quintez Cephus in the second quarter. He ran two times for 20 yards.

“You want to give the coaches that confidence anytime you step out there that you can go out there and execute when your number is called,” said Mertz, a former Florida and Wisconsin quarterback.

Kedon Slovis, who was on Houston's practice squad last year as a rookie, completed 11 of 16 passes for 111 yards with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Daniel Jackson in the fourth quarter.

The Texans (2-1) kept C.J. Stroud on the sideline, a week after he led two drives in a preseason win over Carolina, and did not play No. 2 quarterback Davis Mills.

Mertz made the most of the opportunity, showing he could make plays with his right arm and legs.

The 29-year-old Allen has started 19 times, including twice with the Texans in 2022, and played in 31 games over seven seasons with Carolina, Washington, Houston, Buffalo and Pittsburgh. He threw 17 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in 12 starts for the Panthers in 2019, the only season he played extensively.

Allen, who was 5 of 5 for 66 yards and a score on Saturday, completed 35 of 44 passes for 401 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions in four preseason games. Detroit (1-3) took Hooker in the third round out of Tennessee in 2023, hoping he would eventually become Goff's backup.

Hooker didn't throw a touchdown pass in the preseason and threw his third interception of the preseason in the fourth quarter against Houston.

Texans linebacker Jake Hansen was injured in the first quarter, but was able to walk off the field.

Campbell said Lions linebacker Ezekiel Turner, who played in nine games last season in Detroit and has 90 NFL games of experience, had an injury that “didn't look good,” during the game.

Texans: Start season Sept. 7 at the Los Angeles Rams.

Lions: Open season Sept. 7 at Green Bay.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff warms up before a preseason NFL football game against the Houston Texans Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Houston Texans quarterbacks Davis Mills (10) and C.J. Stroud stand together before a preseason NFL football game against the Detroit Lions Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Houston Texans quarterback Graham Mertz (18) throws a pass against the Detroit Lions during the first half of an NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Detroit Lions quarterback Kyle Allen (8) throws a pass against the Houston Texans during the first half of an NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) catches a pass for a touchdown as Houston Texans cornerback D'Angelo Ross (37) defends during the first half of an NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Mark Scheifele had a goal and three assists, Jonathan Toews scored for the fourth consecutive game and the Winnipeg Jets beat the Minnesota Wild 6-2 on Thursday night.

Toews also had an assist, Gabriel Vilardi and Josh Morrissey each had a goal and an assist, and Tanner Pearson and Logan Stanley scored as Winnipeg tied its season high for goals.

Connor Hellebuyck made 32 saves as the Jets won their fourth straight following an 11-game losing streak (0-7-4). Winnipeg is 9-1-1 in its past 11 games against the Wild, including six straight wins in Minnesota.

Danila Yurov and Marcus Johansson scored for the Wild, who are 1-3-2 in their last six games. Jesper Wallstedt made 14 saves in two periods; Filip Gustavsson had eight in the third.

Minnesota had the game’s first 10 shots on goal, but Winnipeg scored first when, with a two-man advantage, Toews poked in a rebound of Vilardi's shot.

It was the 900th career point for Toews, who last had goals in four straight games in March 2014. He had three goals in his first 42 games this season.

Pearson put home his own rebound with 11 seconds left in the opening period. A one-timer from Morrissey made it 3-0 eight seconds later.

It was the fastest two goals scored since the franchise relocated to Winnipeg. Ron Hainsey and Chris Thorburn scored seven seconds apart for the Atlanta Thrashers on Dec. 2, 2008.

Yurov got the Wild within 3-1 early in the second period, but Stanley scored on a slap shot, Vilardi on a rebound and Scheifele went bar down later in the frame for his 13th career four-point game.

Morrissey’s assist on Vilardi’s goal gave him 90 career multipoint games, passing Dustin Byfuglien for the most by a defenseman in Jets history.

Jets: Host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday.

Wild: Begin a three-game trip Saturday at Buffalo.

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL

Winnipeg Jets left wing Cole Koepke (45) tries to slap the puck away from Minnesota Wild left wing Marcus Johansson (90) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)

Minnesota Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt (30) stops a shot as defenseman Jared Spurgeon, left and defenseman Daemon Hunt, second from right, tries to clear Winnipeg Jets center Jonathan Toews (19) and center Gabriel Vilardi (13) from the goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Jan. 15, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)

Winnipeg Jets left wing Tanner Pearson (70) hits the puck over Minnesota Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt to score a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)

Winnipeg Jets defenseman Logan Stanley, second from right, celebrates with right wing Nino Niederreiter (62), center Vladislav Namestnikov (7) and center Cole Perfetti (91) after scoring against the Minnesota Wild during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)

Winnipeg Jets center Jonathan Toews (19) scores a goal as he's checked by Minnesota Wild defenseman Jake Middleton (5) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Jan. 15, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)