When is Sam LaPorta coming back? Injury update, return timeline for Detroit Lions TE

Mike Moraitis

•
When is Sam LaPorta coming back? Injury update, return timeline for Detroit Lions TE image

Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

The Detroit Lions won't have the services of tight end Sam LaPorta for the Week 14 game against the Dallas Cowboys and beyond.

LaPorta suffered a back injury in the Week 10 win over Washington Commanders and was later placed on injured reserve, which means he is forced to miss at least four games.

With the four-week stay on injured reserve, the earliest LaPorta can return is in Week 15, but unfortunately he's going to be out a lot longer than that.

Here's the latest on LaPorta's status for the rest of this season.

When is Sam LaPorta coming back?

Return timeline: Likely next season

LaPorta's injury was serious enough that it required surgery and now it is unlikely he will play at all again in 2025, head coach Dan Campbell revealed on Nov. 21.

"I think we would be fortunate to have a chance to get him back for the rest of the season," Campbell said, per ESPN's Eric Woodyard. "I think that's very, very slim."

On the bright side, LaPorta's surgery went well and Campbell doesn't anticipate the tight end having any lingering effects long term.

"The good news is the procedure went really well long-term," Campbell said.

We still don't have the specifics of LaPorta's injury, but clearly it was pretty serious for him to need season-ending surgery.

Now, LaPorta will look ahead to 2026, which will be the last year of his rookie deal.

LaPorta has proven himself to be one of the better tight ends in the NFL over his three seasons in the league, so an extension from Detroit is certainly possible, especially with the team having a history of taking care of its own.

However, the Lions will likely want to see LaPorta return healthy before extending him, so a new contract may not come in 2026, or at least not before or early in the season.

More NFL News

Editorial Team