Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta was on pace for a career-best season before suffering a back injury that would cut short his 2025 campaign, and the team will now face a big decision on his future.
LaPorta has been a star since joining the Lions in 2023, catching 20 total touchdowns and earning second-team All-Pro honors in his rookie season. He became an important part of the air attack, and his injury this year coincided with some extended struggles for the offense that culminated in their playoff elimination in Week 17.
As Richard Silva of the Detroit News noted, the Lions will now face a decision on whether to lock down LaPorta for the long term or wait another year to address his future.
Lions Could Extend Sam LaPorta This Offseason
As Silva noted, LaPorta is set to enter the final year of his rookie contract and could get an extension from the team this summer.
“Eligible to hand LaPorta an extension this offseason, the Lions will have to weigh the pros and cons of giving him a new contract to get ahead of the market, or waiting a year to see how he responds to the procedure,” Silva wrote. “LaPorta expects to be back by training camp, and he hopes to be ‘up, running around’ during Organized Team Activities (OTAs) this summer.”
There is no question about LaPorta’s value to the offense. He made 86 receptions for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns in his rookie season as the Lions advanced to the NFC Championship game, then followed it up with 60 receptions for 726 yards and seven touchdowns in 2024.
LaPorta was on a strong pace when he suffered a back injury this year, making 40 receptions for 489 yards and three touchdowns in just nine games.
“He was a machine with the ball in his hands, compiling 273 yards after the catch,” Silva wrote. “He also caught all seven of his contested tries, and 23 of his grabs moved the chains. With LaPorta in the lineup, the Lions enjoyed 31.4 points per game. Without him, that average fell to 24.8.”
Silva noted that LaPorta was among the league’s best tight ends when he was hurt.
“Before getting hurt, LaPorta was tied with Green Bay’s Tucker Kraft for the fifth-most receiving yards among the 39 tight ends with at least 20 targets, and he was third in percentage of targets caught, at 88.9%,” Silva wrote. “He was ninth in both catches and yards per reception (12.2), well on his way to another season proving he’s one of the NFL’s best at the position.”
Lions Suffered at Tight End
LaPorta was not the only Lions tight end to lose time to injury. Brock Wright and Shane Zylstra also missed long stretches, which Silva noted had an impact beyond just the passing game.
“In games with both LaPorta and Wright active, the Lions averaged 136.3 rushing yards. In games where both players were out, the team averaged 83.3,” Silva wrote.
The Lions will have some other big changes coming for their offense, with the team firing offensive coordinator John Morton after just one season.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Lions Facing Big Offseason Decision on 20-Touchdown Star appeared first on Heavy Sports.