Allen Park — For the first time since he herniated a disc in his back against the Washington Commanders last November and soon after underwent season-ending surgery to repair the issue, Detroit Lions tight Sam LaPorta on Wednesday participated in a practice without any limitations.
And he couldn’t be happier about it.
“If you’ve ever had a nervous system injury, (it’s difficult). Just waiting for the nerve strength to come back, being told it might not come back, all those feelings of maybe not being able to play again. It sucks sitting on the couch,” LaPorta said following Detroit’s first training camp practice of the year.
“My wife got the short end of the stick with that. Every night I’d be telling her, ‘Man, I really hope God allows me to get my nerve strength back and (I) get to play football again.’ She’s like, ‘You’re fine. The doctor says you’re going to be fine. The training staff says you’re going to be great, you’re going to come back and be great.'”
LaPorta was on track for a career season before going down in Detroit’s win over Washington on Nov. 9, on pace to have more yards in 2025 (923.7) than he did in 2023 (889), when he broke records as a rookie and earned All-Pro honors as a member of the second team.
Of the 35 tight ends in the NFL who were targeted at least 45 times last season, only four averaged more yards per reception than LaPorta (12.2), and Los Angeles Rams veteran Colby Parkinson was the lone player at the position to average more yards after the catch; Parkinson averaged 7.3, LaPorta averaged 6.8.
LaPorta and Brett Fischer, the team’s director of player health and performance, began working toward LaPorta’s return in early January, a little over a month removed from surgery. Everything went according to plan. LaPorta was up and moving, though limited, during OTAs and mandatory minicamp before he was fully cleared ahead of training camp.
“The nerve strength came back in phases,” LaPorta explained. “It started with the glute, then worked down the hamstring, then the calf. Honestly, probably just two or three months ago the full strength came back and you could see the muscle atrophy start to diminish and grow that strength back.
“I’ve had three or four good months under my belt of running, cutting, sprinting, (and) now I’m hitting. Obviously, (we’re) going to be in pads soon, so I’m excited.”
In March, LaPorta, selected in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft and entering the final season of his rookie contract, became eligible for an extension. Lions general manager has previously expressed an interest in retaining LaPorta, along with linebacker Jack Campbell (whose extension got done in May), running back Jahmyr Gibbs and safety Brian Branch — all of whom became eligible for extensions earlier this year.
The NFL’s highest-paid tight end, in terms of average annual value, is San Francisco’s George Kittle ($19.1 million). Arizona’s Trey McBride ($19 million) and Atlanta’s Kyle Pitts ($17.7 million) follow closely behind. Since entering the NFL in 2023, LaPorta ranks ninth in receptions (186), fifth in receiving yards (2,104) and third in receiving touchdowns (20).
“I think (for) everybody that’s on the roster, money is motivation. This is our job now. Getting to provide for your family is incredible,” LaPorta said when asked about a potential extension. “But for now, I’m just going to let my agent and the organization handle that.”
What could help LaPorta land a lucrative deal, given it doesn’t get done before the season starts, is new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing’s use of tight ends. Petzing coached the position with the Cleveland Browns from 2020-21, and McBride developed into one of the NFL’s best pass-catching threats while Petzing was Arizona’s offensive coordinator from 2023-25.
The Cardinals also used more 13 personnel (three tight ends) than any other team in the league during Petzing’s tenure, per TruMedia.
“I think the league is gravitating towards tight end play right now, with the 12 and 13 personnel, which is exciting for us, specifically,” LaPorta said when asked about Petzing. “I had more of an outsider’s view in the springtime during OTAs; I was off to the side and I got to watch mostly, and now I get to be a part of it.
“Just super amped to work with him.”
rsilva@detroitnews.com
@rich_silva18
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Lions’ Sam LaPorta back to full health, letting agent handle possible extension
Reporting by Richard Silva, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Richard Silva, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
