Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta is potentially out for the remainder of the season. This follows confirmation by Lions head coach Dan Campbell that the player had undergone back surgery. Campbell added that his chances of returning to action this season after the procedure are very slim.
The coach said:
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“I think we should be lucky to have any chance of getting him back for the rest of the season. I think it’s very, very slim. The good news is that the procedure went very well in the long run.”
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The 24-year-old tight end was initially ruled out of the Lions’ clash with the Philadelphia Eagles, and was placed on injured reserve. He missed an entire week of practice before the team announced Saturday that he would be on the injured reserve list.
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Sam LaPorta is third on the Lions in receiving yards, having tallied 40 receptions for 489 yards and three touchdowns. He’s only behind wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams.
Lions offensive coordinator John Morton highlighted LaPorta’s importance during his press conference on Thursday, where he said:
“I mean, he’s a heck of a versatile blocker and receiver, he can do it all. But he’s been really reliable on third down in the red zone, that’s the biggest thing. But his blocking on first and second down. I mean, the way he’s improved with his blocking, it’s just awesome. So our other guys – all the tight ends need to step up.”
Who will replace Sam LaPorta in Detroit’s offense?
The Lions will have to rely heavily on tight end Brock Wright to step in in the absence of Sam LaPorta. Campbell expressed confidence in the 26-year-old’s abilities ahead of the Eagles game. He said:
“Brock is a guy that we don’t talk about a lot, but he’s a jack of all trades. He does everything for us: pass protection, run blocking, he can run certain routes, he plays on special teams. He’s one of the most reliable players we have on this team.”
Wright had 11 receptions for 79 yards and two scores this season. Campbell looks beyond the numbers to see what the Notre Dame alum has to offer. He continued:
“At the end of the day, what you really need in a tight end position is versatility and intelligence, and he has both — and he’s tough.”
Detroit’s next game is Sunday against the New York Giants.
Edited by Kayode Akinwumi
