The Detroit Lions got some concerning news about their rookie tight end this week — the budding star is dealing with a calf injury. So is Sam LaPorta playing this week? He picked up the mid-week injury in practice. Let’s look at the most recent Sam LaPorta injury updates as we assess whether he will be available for Week 6. If you’re looking for the latest odds for the Detroit Lions, make sure to check out OddsShopper’s shop pages!
Sam LaPorta Injury Update: Is Detroit’s Rookie Playing Sunday?
Sam LaPorta Injury Update
Latest Sam LaPorta Injury Update (October 15 9:35 AM): The rookie is “trending” toward playing on Sunday.
The Detroit Lions listed tight end Sam LaPorta as a non-participant in Thursday’s practice due to a calf injury. He had logged a full session on Wednesday and hadn’t been dealing with the injury beforehand. Fortunately, the tight end was able to get in limited reps on Friday, and head coach Dan Campbell gave him a questionable tag.
After the injury, Campbell had said he didn’t know about LaPorta’s status yet, but he sounded more upbeat on Friday. “Yeah, he just had a little bit of a strain,” he told reporters, “we’ll know more today.” Campbell is usually a pretty honest head coach when it comes to players’ availability, so it’s encouraging to hear him minimize the severity of LaPorta’s ailment.
Is Sam LaPorta Playing for Detroit in Week 6?
So is Sam LaPorta playing for Detroit in Week 6? Signs point to yes. Campbell didn’t sound overly concerned about the rookie after Friday’s practice session, and although he picked up a questionable tag, it sounds like he is on the right side of it. Still, mid-week injuries are always hard to evaluate since we usually don’t see them happen.
Lions’ rookie TE Sam LaPorta is expected to play today vs. Tampa, per @JeffDarlington.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 15, 2023
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It’s likelier than not that LaPorta will suit up against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But if he can’t go, the banged-up Lions will likely have to rely heavily on wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and running back David Montgomery. LaPorta is coming off an impressive two-touchdown performance against the Carolina Panthers, so it’d be disappointing if a mid-week injury costs him his momentum.
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