Lions tight end Sam LaPorta was able to play just nine games last season, with a back issue getting him placed on injured reserve in mid-November.
After undergoing surgery to repair the injury, LaPorta has been able to do walk-throughs during the offseason program. But otherwise, he’s been working on the side.
However, head coach Dan Campbell noted that LaPorta’s rehab is putting him in a good position for training camp.
“We like where he is going, he is trending the right way,” Campbell said on Tuesday, via transcript from the team.
That’s a significant positive for a team that is implementing a new offense in 2026 and will likely be counting on LaPorta. It’s also good news for the tight end, who is entering the final year of his rookie deal as a second-round pick in 2023.
LaPorta finished 2025 with 40 receptions for 489 yards with three touchdowns in nine games. He had 86 receptions for 889 yards with 10 TDs as a rookie before tallying 60 receptions for 726 yards and seven touchdowns in 2025.