Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta didn’t waste much time introducing himself as one of the best downfield weapons in the NFL. In just his first season in the league in 2023, the then-rookie LaPorta recorded 889 receiving yards and 109 touchdowns on 86 catches and 120 targets through 17 games.
So good was LaPorta that season that he earned a Pro Bowl nod in only his inaugural pro campaign. After such a season, the former Iowa Hawkeyes star was given lofty expectations for his second year in the NFL.
However, he failed to match the numbers he put up in 2023, as he only had 726 receiving yards and seven touchdowns through 16 games in 2024.
Detroit Lions’ LaPorta speaks up on his 2024 regression
Detroit Lions, Sam LaPorta
Jan 18, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) is tackled during the fourth quarter against the Washington Commanders in a 2025 NFC divisional round game at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
LaPorta didn’t exactly have a sophomore slump. The digits he had in 2024 were still solid. He simply didn’t live up to the immense expectations of many people.
The 24-year-old LaPorta doesn’t mind his lower production in 2024, as he’s aware of the other mouths Lions quarterback Jared Goff had to feed in the passing game.
“There were a lot of weapons last year, so I kept hearing comments this offseason, ‘Why didn’t you get the ball as much?’” LaPorta said Thursday, perColton Pouncy of The Athletic. “It’s like, ‘Dude, we scored the most points of any team in the NFL in the last five years. Everybody deserves the ball.’”
In 2024, the Lions had the best offense in terms of scoring in the NFL, as they averaged 33.1 points per contest while also finishing second with 415.7 total yards per game.
Detroit Lions, Sam LaPorta
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) makes a catch against Minnesota Vikings safety Camryn Bynum (24) during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025.
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