Sam

LaPorta

Specifically, Petzing ran with much heavier personnel than the Lions are used to seeing and have run a lot of 13-personnel (three tight ends, one running back) since 2023. We doubt the Lions will go quite that big quite that often — that means one of Jameson Williams or Amon-Ra St. Brown is off the field — but we do think that Trey McBride’s success under Petzing generally augurs well for LaPorta in 2026. Of course, given that LaPorta (back) seems questionable for training camp after surgery, we don’t exactly know that the Lions will be able to pull this off. LaPorta seems like a boom-bust pick in Best Ball drafts from where we sit in January.

Campbell said LaPorta is “improving but yet, he’s not completely healed.” He would “like to believe” that LaPorta will be good to go for training camp, “but you’re talking about a back.” This is unfortunate. The talented, young tight end underwent surgery to correct the issue in November. We will continue providing updates on the matter throughout the offseason. Stay tuned.

LaPorta’s injury came as a bit of a surprise when it was first announced. Then he surprisingly landed on injured reserve last Saturday and has now more or less been ruled out for the season. Campbell confirmed on Friday that LaPorta underwent back surgery, which feels like another unexpected announcement for a player who looked perfectly fine the last time we saw him on a field in Week 10. If his season is over, LaPorta ends 2025 with a productive 40-489-3 line on 49 targets. LaPorta was on pace for a career-high 923 receiving yards before his injury, while the 92 targets he was on pace for would have narrowly topped his 2024 total (83). Assuming this isn’t an injury that lingers into the offseason, LaPorta will have plenty of upside as a high-end TE1 for fantasy managers in 2026.

The veteran tight end will now miss the next four games, at minimum, as he tends to a back injury. Fantasy managers got little notice of the injury, with the first time hearing about it occurring when he missed practice Wednesday. Things escalated quickly as he was ruled out for the team’s Week 11 game on Friday and placed on injured reserve Saturday. Brock Wright is listed as questionable against the Eagles for Sunday Night Football, but he would stand to benefit from LaPorta’s absence. Realistically, boost the volume expectation of Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams for the immediate future.

LaPorta was entirely unable to practice this week, which is concerning. The Lions also listed backup TE Brock Wright (ankle) as questionable to play after two limited sessions. Hopefully, LaPorta can return in time for the Lions’ Week 12 game against the Giants. His Week 11 absence adds a potential target or two to WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR Jameson Williams and RB Jahmyr Gibbs’ workloads.

Not good. LaPorta missing both of the first two days of practice this week has the feel of an absence ahead of Friday’s status update. Brock Wright (ankle, limited) would take his place in the lineup if LaPorta can’t go, but Wright isn’t much of a fantasy option.

Although it is only Wednesday, this is unfortunate. The Lions’ offense has maintained good health thus far. Hopefully, LaPorta is back at practice tomorrow and can play in Week 11 against the Eagles. The Lions field one of the NFL’s deepest pass-catcher corps. Pulling LaPorta out of the lineup would result in increased opportunities for WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR Jameson Williams and RB Jahmyr Gibbs.

LaPorta was left out in the cold on the first drive, but Lions head coach and new play caller, Dan Campbell, corrected the issue on the second drive. LaPorta’s first reception went for 14 yards, aided by pre-snap motion and play action, and the Lions quickly went back to him three plays later, picking up eight yards on a quick-hitting slant. LaPorta later helped RB Jahmyr Gibbs score his second touchdown of the day by driving the Lions’ running back forward through multiple Commanders defenders, two of whom ended up injured, from 13 yards out. LaPorta is a TE1 against the Eagles next week.

LaPorta’s season-best line was fueled by a scripted opening series where he caught three passes for 66 yards and his touchdown. The score was a 40-yarder where LaPorta caught a deep pass before seeming to drag the Vikings’ entire defense into the end zone. It was a thing of beauty, though it was not the harbinger of more greatness to come for the Lions’ offense in a disappointing loss. Although he has stabilized as a strong mid-range TE1, LaPorta is no longer pushing for top-five status on a weekly basis, a surprising outcome considering just how good he was in his rookie campaign of 2023.

Quarterback Jared Goff attempted only 29 passes in a night headlined by the team’s defense and running back Jahmyr Gibbs, with no pass-catcher other than alpha wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown notching more than three targets. The talented fourth-year tight end will look to get back on track in the fantasy streets when the Lions host the Vikings in Week 9, after the team’s Week 8 bye.