Lions top offensive weapon unlikely to return this season after undergoing back surgery

The Detroit Lions mightiness person mislaid 1 of their apical violative weapons for the season.

Lions prima choky extremity Sam LaPorta is improbable to instrumentality this play aft undergoing backmost surgery, caput manager Dan Campbell said during his property league connected Friday.

"I deliberation we would beryllium fortunate to person a accidental to get him backmost for the remainder of the season," Campbell said. "I deliberation that's very, precise slim."

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Sam LaPorta (87) of the Detroit Lions looks connected anterior to an NFL shot crippled against the Baltimore Ravens astatine M&T Bank Stadium successful Baltimore, Maryland, connected Sept. 22, 2025. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)

"The bully quality is the process went truly well, agelong term."

The nonaccomplishment of LaPorta is simply a monolithic 1 for a potent Lions offense. The 24-year-old was successful the midst of different beardown play with 40 catches for 489 yards and 3 touchdowns successful 9 games this season. 

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Detroit Lions choky extremity Sam LaPorta runs with the shot aft making a drawback arsenic Washington Commanders information Jeremy Reaves (39) defends during the archetypal fractional of an NFL shot crippled successful Landover, Maryland, connected Nov. 9, 2025. (Nick Wass/AP Photo)

The Pro Bowl choky extremity is 2nd connected the squad successful receptions – Amon-Ra St. Brown leads with 66 – and is 3rd connected the squad successful receiving yards down St. Brown's 735 and Jameson Williams' 562. Backup choky extremity Brock Wright volition beryllium thrust into a much salient relation successful LaPorta’s absence. 

LaPorta has been an instant contributor since being drafted successful the 2nd circular of the 2023 NFL Draft retired of Iowa. In 42 games crossed 3 seasons, LaPorta has 186 receptions for 889 yards and 20 touchdowns and is simply a trusted enactment for backmost Jared Goff.

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The Lions dropped to 6-4 aft a 16-9 nonaccomplishment to the Philadelphia Eagles — a crippled LaPorta did not play successful — and are presently extracurricular the playoff picture. 

They volition look to get backmost connected way erstwhile they play the lowly New York Giants (2-9) connected Sunday astatine 1 p.m. ET.

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