Sam LaPorta

Player News

• Lions' Sam LaPorta: Cleared for training camp

  4D ago • By RotoWire

  LaPorta (herniated disc) was fully cleared earlier this month, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports. LaPorta was limited during OTAs and minicamp while rehabbing from back surgery, but now he's on track to participate in training camp with the expectation that he'll be available to work fully in the process, while his initial level of practice involvement will be determined by the Lions. As the coming season approaches, LaPorta is slated to remain on the fantasy radar as a key cog in Detroit's offense while working as the team's top pass-catching tight end. Prior to his injury, LaPorta logged a 40-489-3 line on 49 targets in nine regular-season contests in 2025.

  SEE FULL ARTICLE

• Lions' Sam LaPorta: Primed for TE-friendly scheme

  4D ago • By RotoWire

  LaPorta (back) is expected to be full go for training camp after he was limited during OTAs and minicamp while rehabbing from back surgery, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports. LaPorta remains Detroit's top tight end after a 2025 regular season in which he was limited to nine games due to a herniated disc, and the arrival of new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing could be especially relevant for his fantasy outlook. Under Petzing, the Cardinals' offense leaned heavily on multiple TE packages last year, and Trey McBride put together a monster 126-1,239-11 campaign. As has been the case in recent seasons, the main thing clouding LaPorta's ceiling will be competition, with wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and Isaac TeSlaa, plus Pro Bowl RB Jahmyr Gibbs, all looking for targets from Jared Goff as well.

  SEE FULL ARTICLE

• Lions' Sam LaPorta: Trending in right direction

  06/17/2026 • By RotoWire

  Coach Dan Campbell said that LaPorta (back), who was a partial participant in Tuesday's mandatory minicamp practice, could be cleared for the start of training camp next month, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports. "We like where he's going," Campbell said of the tight end Tuesday. "He's trending the right way." LaPorta, who underwent surgery this past November to address a herniated disc in his back, hasn't taken part in full-speed team drills this spring. However, the tight end did work with the Lions' first-team offense during the 25-minute jog-through portion of Tuesday's session before working off to the side with a trainer during seven-on-seven and position drills. As LaPorta progresses toward working fully coming training camp, Birkett adds that the 2023 second-rounder is expected to sign a contract extension with Detroit at some point this summer. Prior to his injury, LaPorta recorded a 40/489/3 receiving line (on 49 targets) in nine regular-season contests in 2025.

  SEE FULL ARTICLE

• Lions' Sam LaPorta: Practices Thursday

  06/04/2026 • By RotoWire

  LaPorta (back) participated in Detroit's second open practice of OTAs on Thursday, Tim Twentyman of detroitlions.com reports. LaPorta didn't participate last week during the first OTA practice that was open to reporters, but it's possible he's been practicing behind closed doors. Now that reporters have spotted LaPorta on the field, it's clear he has at least some level of clearance for football activities, coming back from mid-November surgery on a herniated disc. LaPorta said in January that he expected to have full clearance before the start of training camp in late July.

  SEE FULL ARTICLE

• Lions' Sam LaPorta: Planning to be ready for camp

  01/07/2026 • By RotoWire

  LaPorta said Monday that he will enter the next phase of his rehab from back surgery this week and anticipates being fully cleared in advance of training camp, Richard Silva of The Detroit News reports. The 24-year-old tight end ended up missing the Lions' final eight games of the season after he suffered a herniated disk in a Nov. 9 win over the Commanders. LaPorta said that he was initially hopeful to avoid a stint on injured reserve and return to action in 2-to-3 weeks after suffering the injury, but after further deliberation, he and the Lions decided that opting for surgery was the best long-term course of action. Six weeks removed from his procedure, LaPorta appears to be progressing as anticipated, and while he may not be ready to take contact in OTAs this spring, he expressed optimism that he'll be able to be "up, running around" during those workouts. LaPorta will be eligible for an extension when the new league year begins in March, and retaining the tight end on a long-term deal will likely be a priority for Detroit after he averaged 4.4 receptions and 50.1 receiving yards per game while scoring 20 total touchdowns in 42 appearances through his first three NFL seasons.

  SEE FULL ARTICLE