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The Detroit Lions may have lost one of their best offensive weapons of the season.
Lions star tight end Sam LaPorta is unlikely to return this season after undergoing back surgery, head coach Dan Campbell said during his press conference Friday.
“I think we’d be lucky to have a chance to get him back for the rest of the season,” Campbell said. “I think it’s very, very thin.”
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Sam LaPorta (87) of the Detroit Lions looks on before an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland on September 22, 2025. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)
“The good news is that the procedure went very well, in the long term.”
Losing LaPorta is huge for a powerful Lions offense. The 24-year-old was in the midst of another good season with 40 catches for 489 yards and three touchdowns in nine games this season.
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Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta runs with the ball after making a catch as Washington Commanders safety Jeremy Reaves (39) defends during the first half of an NFL football game in Landover, Maryland, November 9, 2025. (Nick Wass/AP Photo)
The Pro Bowl tight end is second on the team in receptions – Amon-Ra St. Brown leads with 66 – and is third on the team in receiving yards behind St. Brown’s 735 and Jameson Williams’ 562. Backup tight end Brock Wright will play a larger role in LaPorta’s absence.
LaPorta has been an instant contributor since being drafted in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Iowa. In 42 games over three seasons, LaPorta has 186 receptions for 889 yards and 20 touchdowns and is a trusted option for quarterback Jared Goff.
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The Lions fell to 6-4 after a 16-9 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles – a game LaPorta did not play in – and are currently out of the playoffs.
They’ll look to get back on track when they take on the lowly New York Giants (2-9) on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
