Lions' Sam LaPorta: Slim chance of return this season
Rotowire
LaPorta (back) has undergone surgery, and head coach Dan Campbell described LaPorta's chances of returning this season as "very, very slim" Friday, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.
LaPorta was placed on injured reserve Nov. 15. His earliest possible return date is Dec. 14, but Campbell's update suggests LaPorta will be out well beyond that point, most likely missing the remainder of the season. Campbell didn't completely shut the door on LaPorta returning, so the star tight end might make it back if the Lions put together a deep playoff run. Brock Wright and Ross Dwelley are the two remaining healthy options at the position on the active roster.
The Lions placed LaPorta (back) on injured reserve Saturday.
LaPorta thus will miss at least the next four games due to the back injury that didn't allow him to practice this week before Detroit ruled him out for Week 11 action Friday. His next chance to play will be Sunday, Dec. 14 at the Rams. In the meantime, Brock Wright (ankle) and Ross Dwelley will handle TE duties for the Lions.
Lions' Sam LaPorta: Not expected to practice Friday
Rotowire
LaPorta (back) isn't expected to practice Friday, Ben Raven of MLive.com reports.
LaPorta hasn't practiced at all this week, which led reporters to ask Lions coach Dan Campbell on Friday about his trust in backup tight end Brock Wright. Campbell responded, "Sky high," but he didn't shut the door on the possibility of LaPorta playing Sunday against the Eagles. It remains to be seen how the Lions list LaPorta on their final injury report Friday afternoon.
LaPorta (back) has been ruled out for Sunday's game at Philadelphia.
LaPorta handled his normal workload in last week's 44-22 win at Washington, but he didn't practice at all this week. No. 2 tight end Brock Wright (ankle) is listed as questionable, though Lions head coach Dan Campbell said earlier Friday that his trust in Wright is "sky high," per Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site. If not Wright, the Lions will turn to veteran Ross Dwelley, who has 45 career receptions and 17 NFL starts to his name.
