LaPorta recorded seven receptions on 10 targets for 111 yards in Sunday's 48-42 loss to the Bills.
Several of Detroit's primary pass catchers posted inflated stat lines as Jared Goff was forced to take to the air 59 times in negative game script. LaPorta delivered his best yardage total of the season as a result, highlighted by long gains of 31 and 22 yards to record the second 100-yard performance of his career. The Lions aren't likely to be down multiple scores often for the rest of the campaign, making this an outlier performance, though it was positive to see LaPorta finish second on the team in targets.
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Lions' Sam LaPorta: Second-leading pass catcher in win
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LaPorta brought in five of seven targets for 54 yards in the Lions' 34-31 win over the Packers on Thursday night.
LaPorta tied multiple teammates for second in receptions and finished as the runner-up in receiving yards to Jameson Williams on the night. The talented tight end also matched Tim Patrick for second in targets during what was one of LaPorta's busiest games yet this season. The catch total was LaPorta's second highest of 2024, and the targets qualified as a new season high, sending him into a Week 15 home showdown against the Bills on Sunday, Dec. 15 with plenty of momentum.
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Lions' Sam LaPorta: TD maven in Week 13
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LaPorta caught three of six targets for six yards and two touchdowns in Thursday's 23-20 win over the Bears.
LaPorta caught a three-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter and added a one-yard score in the third. Despite his modest yardage total in this game, LaPorta's usage has trended up recently; he's drawn at least six targets in four of his past five appearances after falling short of that mark in each of his first six games this season. The second-year tight end has scored five touchdowns in his last seven games, showcasing the red-zone proficiency that helped him rack up 10 regular-season TDs as a rookie in 2023. He'll look to build on his recent momentum Week 14 against the Packers, which will be another Thursday game.
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Lions' Sam LaPorta: Garners six targets in return
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LaPorta (shoulder) finished with three receptions (six targets) for 19 yards in Sunday's 24-6 win over the Colts.
LaPorta returned from a one-game absence due to a shoulder injury and finished third in targets in a run-heavy victory. The sophomore tight end actually matched his target and reception totals from his last active game (3-66-1), but with far less production this time around. With no reported setbacks, LaPorta should resume being a mid-tier fantasy option when the Lions host the Bears on Thanksgiving Day.
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Lions' Sam LaPorta: Ruled out
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LaPorta (shoulder) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against Jacksonville.
LaPorta didn't practice at all this week after making an early exit from Sunday's 26-23 win at Houston. Coach Dan Campbell said Monday that the tight end is day-to-day, which suggests there's some shot he'll return Week 12 at Indianapolis (Nov. 24) or Week 13 against Chicago (Nov. 28). As for this week's game, Brock Wright figures to get most of the snaps in single-TE formations, with Shane Zylstra joining him in two-TE sets. LaPorta's absence could also free up a few extra snaps for depth WRs Tim Patrick and Kalif Raymond.
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Lions' Sam LaPorta: Not practicing
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LaPorta (shoulder) isn't practicing Friday, Nolan Bianchi of The Detroit News reports.
LaPorta hasn't practiced at all this week and thus seems unlikely to play Sunday against the Jaguars. He suffered an AC joint sprain in his shoulder during last week's win over the Texans, leaving Brock Wright as Detroit's top tight end for the fourth quarter.
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Lions' Sam LaPorta: Sits out practice Wednesday
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Lions head coach Dan Campbell said LaPorta (shoulder) didn't practice Wednesday, Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com reports.
LaPorta exited this past Sunday's 26-23 win at Houston due a shoulder injury that eventually was termed an AC joint sprain. On Monday, Campbell called LaPorta day-to-day, and the coach used the same term to describe the tight end Wednesday. LaPorta will have two more chances this week to put himself in a position to be available Sunday against the Jaguars.
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Lions' Sam LaPorta: Questionable to return Sunday night
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LaPorta (shoulder) is questionable to return to Sunday night's game against the Texans.
The tight end caught three passes for 66 yards and a touchdown before exiting. LaPorta has 25 catches for 366 yards and three scores on the year. Brock Wright is Detroit's next man up at tight end.
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Lions' Sam LaPorta: Bust Alert (Start/Sit)
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LaPorta had another down game in Week 9 at Green Bay with two catches for 28 yards on three targets. Jameson Williams is now back from his two-game suspension, and LaPorta only had one game this year with double digits in PPR points with Williams on the field. The matchup at Houston is also tough since the Texans are No. 1 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends. Three tight ends have scored touchdowns against Houston, but no tight end has more than 41 receiving yards. And Cole Kmet's four catches against the Texans in Week 2 is the season high. I would only start LaPorta in deeper leagues in Week 10.
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Lions' Sam LaPorta: Limited by game script
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LaPorta recorded two receptions on three targets for 28 yards in Sunday's 24-14 win over the Packers.
LaPorta finished tied for second on the team with three targets, but the Lions played from ahead and leaned on their run game with rain consistently falling. He managed a 19-yard reception on Detroit's first offensive possession, though he made very little impact thereafter. LaPorta now has two or fewer receptions in five of his eight games while being held under 30 yards on three occasions.
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Lions' Sam LaPorta: TEs to Start
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LaPorta is due for a big game, and hopefully it will happen for him coming out of his bye in Week 5. He's failed to score a touchdown this season, and his best outing was in Week 4 against Seattle when he caught four passes for 53 yards on four targets. The Cowboys just allowed two touchdowns to Pat Freiermuth and Connor Heyward in Week 5, and I hope LaPorta will break out in this potential shootout. I'm still trusting LaPorta as a top-10 Fantasy tight end in all leagues.
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Lions' Sam LaPorta: Four catches in Week 4 win
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LaPorta brought in all four targets for 53 yards in the Lions' 42-29 win over the Seahawks on Monday night.
LaPorta finished second in both receptions and receiving yards on the night, with the latter total also serving as a season high. The second-year tight end's catch tally also tied the total he'd recorded against the Rams in Week 1, but he still remains well below the pace he set during a spectacular 2023 rookie season. LaPorta has topped out at five targets (Week 1) as far as a single-game high this season, but he could be poised for more opportunities against an inconsistent Cowboys defense in a Week 6 road battle on Sunday, Oct. 13 following a Week 5 bye.
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Lions' Sam LaPorta: Returns to practice
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LaPorta (ankle) returned to practice Friday, Nolan Bianchi of The Detroit News reports.
It's his first practice of the week, and he'll have another opportunity Saturday before the Lions host the Seahawks on Monday. LaPorta played through the ankle injury during last week's win at Arizona, but his playing time was scaled way back in the second half after he suffered the injury at the end of the second quarter.
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Lions' Sam LaPorta: Dealing with low-ankle sprain
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LaPorta was diagnosed with a low-ankle sprain Monday after suffering the injury in Sunday's 20-13 win over the Cardinals, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
LaPorta was forced off the field twice during Sunday's win over Arizona -- once in the first half when he was carted to the locker room, and once in the third quarter -- but he managed to return to the field in both instances. It's encouraging that the second-year tight end at least has avoided a more severe injury, such as a high-ankle sprain, but through three games to start the 2024 regular season, LaPorta has combined for just eight catches for 94 yards on 10 targets without a touchdown. He'll look to both get healthy and bounce back in terms of production Week 4, when the Lions face the Seahawks in a Monday night game.
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Lions' Sam LaPorta: Sprains ankle Sunday
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Coach Dan Campbell said LaPorta suffered an ankle sprain during Sunday's 20-13 win at Arizona, Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com reports.
LaPorta was carted to the locker room late in the first half and then was deemed questionable to return due to an ankle injury in the third quarter, but he was able to reenter on both occasions. His final receiving line (2-36-0 on two targets) didn't change after he initially left the contest, and his status now will be one to monitor closely to see if he may be in danger of sitting out Monday, Sept. 30 against the Seahawks. Brock Wright finished Week 3 with four catches (on four targets) for 34 yards, so he'd stand to benefit if LaPorta's health concern lingers for any length of time.
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Lions' Sam LaPorta: Returns to Sunday's contest
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LaPorta (undisclosed) returned to Sunday's game in Arizona, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Pressreports.
Per Birkett, LaPorta appeared to be hobbled after the Lions' third and final touchdown of the first half and needed to be carted to the locker room, but he was back on the sideline after halftime. LaPorta thus will be looking to build upon his two catches on as many targets for 36 yards over the final 30 minutes.
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Lions' Sam LaPorta: Needs cart to go to locker room
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LaPorta (undisclosed) was carted to the locker room during Sunday's game at Arizona, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
The reason for LaPorta's exit isn't known, but if he's unable to return, he'll finish Week 3 action with two catches (on two targets) for 36 yards. Brock Wright and Parker Hesse are the Lions' healthy tight ends on the active roster.
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Lions' Sam LaPorta: Quiet night on SNF
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LaPorta caught four of five targets for 45 yards in Sunday's 26-20 overtime win over the Rams.
LaPorta was quiet for the majority of Week 1, though he logged an 18-yard reception on Detroit's final possession of regulation, which ended with a game-tying field goal from Jake Bates. Quarterback Jared Goff didn't have the most effective night, limiting the tight end's overall upside against Los Angeles. LaPorta will look to get more involved in Week 2 when the Lions host the Buccaneers, a team against whom the tight end caught nine of 11 targets for 65 yards in the divisional round of the postseason in 2023.
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Lions' Sam LaPorta: Not on injury report
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LaPorta (hamstring) wasn't listed on the Lions' injury report Wednesday.
LaPorta came down with a hamstring injury Aug. 5, which spurred the Lions to take a cautious approach with the second-year tight end for the rest of training camp and the preseason. Detroit didn't actually hold a practice Wednesday, but he wouldn't have been limited if the team had taken the field. With his availability now clear for Sunday's game versus the Rams, LaPorta will reclaim his standing as the Lions' second pass catcher behind wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown, which amounted to 86 catches (on 120 targets) for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns in 17 games as a rookie in 2023.
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Lions' Sam LaPorta: Seems ready for Week 1
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Coach Dan Campbell said Monday that LaPorta (hamstring) is not one of the players whose injury status is a concern for Sunday's regular-season opener against the Rams, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.
LaPorta and fellow second-year standout Jahmyr Gibbs (hamstring) both resumed practicing last week after having missed a substantial portion of training camp due to hamstring issues. Campbell said Monday that only Ifeatu Melifonwu (undisclosed) is a real candidate to miss Week 1 due to injury, though, so, while it remains to be seen whether LaPorta and Gibbs have yet resumed practicing in full, both players should be on the field during Sunday Night Football to take on Los Angeles. LaPorta set the receptions record for a rookie tight end last season with 86 catches, and he could still have room to grow entering Year 2.
