LaPorta caught four of seven targets for 43 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 34-17 win over the Bears. A 21-yard touchdown catch on a trick play in the third quarter accounted for just under half of LaPorta's yards. The touchdown catch was LaPorta's sixth in the last 10 games after he opened the season with a four-game touchdown drought. LaPorta and the Lions will travel to San Francisco for Monday Night Football in Week 17.
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Status
ACTIVELatest Sam LaPorta news
Team
Detroit Lions
Birthdate
1/12/2001 (23)
Status
Active
HT/WT
6'3", 245 lbs
Draft Info
2023: Rd 2; Pk (DET)
Birthplace
Highland, IL, USA
Position
TE
College
Iowa
Experience
2 seasons
Career History
Detroit Lions
2023-Present
(2 seasons)
LaPorta caught four of seven targets for 43 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 34-17 win over the Bears. A 21-yard touchdown catch on a trick play in the third quarter accounted for just under half of LaPorta's yards. The touchdown catch was LaPorta's sixth in the last 10 games after he opened the season with a four-game touchdown drought. LaPorta and the Lions will travel to San Francisco for Monday Night Football in Week 17.
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.
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 tied 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.
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.
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.
LaPorta (shoulder) doesn't have a designation for Sunday's game at Indianapolis, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports. After sitting out this past Sunday's victory against the Jaguars due to an AC joint sprain in his shoulder that he suffered one week prior, LaPorta was listed as a full participant on injury reports Wednesday through Friday. Now that his status is confirmed for Week 12, he'll be taking on a Colts defense Sunday that has conceded the fourth-most touchdowns (six) to opposing tight ends in 11 games this season.
LaPorta (shoulder) was a full participant at Wednesday's walkthrough. LaPorta sustained an AC joint sprain in his shoulder during a Week 10 win at Houston and wasn't able to practice in any capacity prior to being ruled out ahead of this past Sunday's victory against the Jaguars. With a full listing on the Lions' estimated practice report, he's upholding Dan Campbell's comment from earlier Wednesday, when the coach told Justin Rogers of DetroitFootball.net that LaPorta was trending toward returning to action Sunday in Indianapolis. Still, Campbell also called LaPorta, "Questionable to above," so the tight end may need to log a full practice Thursday or Friday in order to be truly in the clear for Week 12 action.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell said Wednesday that LaPorta (shoulder) is trending toward a return for Sunday's game at Indianapolis, Justin Rogers of DetroitFootball.net reports. Campbell used the term "questionable to above" as an estimation of the tight end's Week 12 status. LaPorta missed the Lions' Week 11 blowout win over Jacksonville due to an AC joint sprain, leaving Brock Wright as Detroit's top tight end.
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.