The Detroit Lions may not have tight end Sam LaPorta for the rest of the season.
LaPorta popped up on the injury report last week due to a back issue and was then placed on injured reserve over the weekend.
Now, Lions head coach Dan Campbell has revealed that there is a "slim" chance LaPorta returns at all this season after having a procedure on his back.
“I think we would be fortunate to have a chance to get him back for the rest of the season,” Campbell said of LaPorta, per ESPN's Eric Woodyard.
The details of LaPorta's back injury remain unclear, but obviously, it is serious enough to keep him on the shelf for the remainder of the 2025 campaign.
This is a terrible blow to the Lions' offense.
LaPorta ranks third on the team in receiving yards and is a key weapon in the passing attack. Furthermore, he's also a good blocker.
With LaPorta out for the long haul, the Lions will have to rely heavily on Brock Wright, who doesn't offer the same kind of pass-catching prowess that LaPorta does.
As far as the team's other tight ends are concerned, Ross Dwelley is the only other one on the team's 53-man roster.
The Lions also have Zach Horton and Anthony Firkser on the practice squad, and wide receiver Jackson Meeks has even been floated as a candidate to play some tight end.
We would expect one of Horton, Firkser or Meeks to be promoted to the 53-man roster at some point ahead of the Week 12 game against the New York Giants.
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