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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Lions' Sam LaPorta: Cleared for training camp
Sam 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 Detroit 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.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Lions' Sam LaPorta: Primed for TE-friendly scheme
Sam 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 Detroit 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.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Lions' Sam LaPorta: Trending in right direction
Coach Dan Campbell said that Sam 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 Detroit 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.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Lions' Sam LaPorta: Practices Thursday
Sam 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.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Lions' Sam LaPorta: Planning to be ready for camp
Sam 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 Detroit 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.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Lions' Sam LaPorta: Still recovering from back surgery
Coach Dan Campbell said Wednesday that Sam LaPorta is "improving," but "he's not completely healed" from the back injury that forced him to injured reserve Nov. 15, Nolan Bianchi of The Detroit News reports.In the wake of LaPorta undergoing back surgery in mid-November, Campbell described the tight end's chances to return this season as "very, very slim," per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. As of this week with the Detroit Lions out of playoff contention, though, Campbell relayed that the team is hopeful LaPorta will be back by training camp in the summer, indicating his health concern was more serious than Detroit initially indicated. LaPorta, a 2023 second-round pick, will be entering the fourth and final year of his rookie contract in 2026.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Lions' Sam LaPorta: Slim chance of return this season
Sam LaPorta (back) has undergone surgery, and head coach Dan Campbell described LaPorta's chances of returning this season as "very, very slim" Friday, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.LaPorta was placed on injured reserve Nov. 15. His earliest possible return date is Dec. 14, but Campbell's update suggests LaPorta will be out well beyond that point, most likely missing the remainder of the season. Campbell didn't completely shut the door on LaPorta returning, so the star tight end might make it back if the Detroit Lions put together a deep playoff run. Brock Wright and Ross Dwelley are the two remaining healthy options at the position on the active roster.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Lions' Sam LaPorta: Gets moved to IR
The Detroit Lions placed Sam LaPorta (back) on injured reserve Saturday.LaPorta thus will miss at least the next four games due to the back injury that didn't allow him to practice this week before Detroit ruled him out for Week 11 action Friday. His next chance to play will be Sunday, Dec. 14 at the Rams. In the meantime, Brock Wright (ankle) and Ross Dwelley will handle TE duties for the Lions.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Lions' Sam LaPorta: Won't play at Philadelphia
Sam LaPorta (back) has been ruled out for Sunday's game at Philadelphia.LaPorta handled his normal workload in last week's 44-22 win at Washington, but he didn't practice at all this week. No. 2 tight end Brock Wright (ankle) is listed as questionable, though Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell said earlier Friday that his trust in Wright is "sky high," per Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site. If not Wright, the Lions will turn to veteran Ross Dwelley, who has 45 career receptions and 17 NFL starts to his name.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Lions' Sam LaPorta: Not expected to practice Friday
Sam LaPorta (back) isn't expected to practice Friday, Ben Raven of MLive.com reports.LaPorta hasn't practiced at all this week, which led reporters to ask Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell on Friday about his trust in backup tight end Brock Wright. Campbell responded, "Sky high," but he didn't shut the door on the possibility of LaPorta playing Sunday against the Eagles. It remains to be seen how the Lions list LaPorta on their final injury report Friday afternoon.
Sam LaPorta
#87 TE / Detroit Lions / EXP: 4YRS Height: 6-3 Weight: 245 lb Age: 25 College: Iowa Bye 6Fantasy Points by Week
- PROJ
- FANTASY PTS
- Rost
- 53%
- Start
- 6%
- TE Rank
- 5