2023 Lions are still in pain as of last year…
A valuable offensive weapon for the postseason may have been lost by the Detroit Lions.
After sustaining a knee injury in the second quarter, Sam LaPorta, who had just broken the record for receptions by a rookie tight end in a season, was taken off the field. Before being ruled out, his return was first considered dubious.
LaPorta sustained the injury on a third-down, five-yard reception; it seemed as though his left foot became lodged in the ground as he was being tackled.
LaPorta will probably miss some time due to a hyperextended knee and a bone bruise, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport’s report following the game. The injury was “not as serious as it looked, but it is not good news,” according to Lions head coach Dan Campbell.
The Lions had little to gain from their Sunday game because they had already secured the NFC North. Had they defeated the Minnesota Vikings and the Dallas Cowboys failed to win, they might have been ranked second in the NFC. However, Detroit has best chance of finishing in the top three was diminished by Dallas’ matchup with the weak Washington Commanders.
As previously reported, LaPorta scored on a 2-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter to catch his season’s record-setting 82nd pass. During the day, he added four more catches to his season total of 86 receptions for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns.
LaPorta, a second-round selection out of Iowa, finished the season with at least five receptions in ten games. He promptly took over for T.J. Hockenson, the seasoned tight end that the Lions traded to the Vikings the previous season.
