Sam LaPorta is going to be the healthiest tight end in Detroit’s training camp this July. That might not sound like a huge deal, but for a guy who spent half of last season trying to play through a fully herniated disc in his back, it’s basically a miracle.
LaPorta was officially cleared for full football activity earlier this month, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, and Lions insider Tim Twentyman confirmed the expectation is that he’ll be a full participant when camp opens. The 2023 Second-Team All-Pro underwent a microdiscectomy last year to repair the disc after playing only nine games. That’s a serious surgery for any athlete. For a tight end who makes his living running across the middle and taking hits from 250-pound linebackers, it was a legit career concern.
A Red-Zone Weapon Returns
When healthy, LaPorta has been one of the most reliable targets Jared Goff has ever had. In 42 career games the guy has 186 catches for over 2,100 yards and 20 touchdowns. His numbers took a dip during his injury-shortened 2025 season, but the Lions still finished top five in points, total yards, and passing yards. The offense wasn’t the problem. The defense was. But having LaPorta back at full strength changes how defensive coordinators have to gameplan for Detroit in the red zone.
There’s obviously going to be some caution early on. The back is a sensitive area and the Lions have no reason to rush him through August workouts. But the fact that he’s been fully cleared since July means the hard part is over. That arduous road back to the gridiron — as the team called it — is done.
Petzing’s New System Needs Him
Here’s the part that should matter to Lions fans beyond just the relief of seeing No. 87 back on the field. Detroit brought in Drew Petzing as the new offensive coordinator, and any new system takes time to marinate. Cohesion is not automatic. It’s built in practice reps, in two-minute drills, in the little things that don’t show up on a stat sheet. LaPorta missing that time last year hurt the chemistry between him and Goff. Now they get a full camp to get it back.
The Lions want to operate like a machine. They’ve got weapons everywhere — Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Jahmyr Gibbs — but a tight end who can stretch the seam and high-point balls in traffic is the piece that makes everything else click. Without LaPorta at full speed, that machine has a gear it can’t reach.
LaPorta turns 26 next January. He’s entering his prime years. And for the first time in over a year, his back feels like it belongs to a professional athlete again. Camp starts next week. He’ll do his best to make up for lost time.
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