ALLEN PARK — Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta had a procedure done on his injured back and the team “would be fortunate” for him to return at any point this season, head coach Dan Campbell said Friday.
LaPorta, who was placed on injured reserve Nov. 15, is Detroit’s third-leading receiver this season, behind Amon-Ra St. Brown (735 yards) and Jameson Williams (562). The third-year pro has caught 40 of his 49 targets for 489 yards and three touchdowns.
“The good news is the procedure went really well, long term,” Campbell said.
The Lions, playing without LaPorta against the Philadelphia Eagles last week, leaned more on 11 personnel, with a third receiver (Kalif Raymond or Isaac TeSlaa) on the field instead of a second tight end. Other TEs on the Lions’ active roster include Brock Wright and Ross Dwelley, and Zach Horton and Anthony Firkser are on the practice squad.
Undrafted rookie Jackson Meeks, another member of the practice squad, also has been getting in some work as a tight end. Meeks (6-foot-2, 218 pounds) played wide receiver in college.