PHILADELPHIA -- The Detroit Lions are hopeful they’ll get tight end Sam LaPorta back this season.
However, they aren’t entirely sure in the initial days after placing him on injured reserve with a back injury. There hasn’t been much said about his injury until Lions coach Dan Campbell was asked after the team’s 16-9 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
“Well, obviously, (serious) enough to where we are talking about four weeks here,” Campbell said. “So, obviously we’re going to hope that this thing calms down and after those four games we can get him back. But we’re really just taking this day-by-day, week-by-week.”
When asked if Campbell thought the Lions would get the Pro Bowl tight end back before the season ends, he said:
“I’m hopeful. But I really don’t know.”
LaPorta can first return from injured reserve for the Week 15 game against the Los Angeles Rams. But that sounds up in the air as they try and see if that back injury can calm down.
Lions tight end Brock Wright played a season-high 49 offensive snaps in the first game without LaPorta. Wright had two catches on seven targets for only 8 yards in Sunday night’s game. Ross Dwelley played only one offensive snap, which was a decrease from his role when LaPorta was active.
Jackson Meeks was elevated from the practice squad for this game. The undrafted rookie wide receiver has been splitting time between the receivers and tight ends in recent.
Meeks also played only one offensive snap, with the Lions going away from multiple tight end formations, and opting for more offensive linemen instead in the first game without LaPorta.
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