Sam LaPorta’s season is pretty much over.
Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell said Friday, Nov. 21, that LaPorta underwent back surgery and likely will miss the rest of the year, including Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Ford Field in Detroit.
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“So look, Sam did have a procedure and he’s going to be out for a while,” Campbell said during his press conference in Allen Park. “A while. I think we would be fortunate to have a chance to get him back for the rest of the season, at some point. I think that’s very, very slim.”
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LaPorta injured his back in the Lions’ Nov. 9 win over the Washington Commanders, was placed on injured reserve and missed a Nov. 16 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Brock Wright is recovering from a trachea injury and not expected back until a potential playoff appearance, and Shane Zylstra, out for weeks, returned from IR on Dec. 14. He and Anthony Firkser – with two catches for 11 yards in four games – are the only tight ends on the Lions‘ 53-man roster entering Sunday’s game.
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) makes a catch against Minnesota Vikings during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, November 2, 2025.
LaPorta is fourth on the Lions with 40 catches for 489 yards and three touchdowns and has been a key red-zone and third-down threat this year.
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Lions TE depth chart
Here’s the Lions’ roster of tight ends for Sunday’s game against the Steelers:
Zach Horton (practice squad).
Giovanni Ricci (practice squad).
LaPorta, who turns 25 in January, set a then-rookie record with 86 catches as a second-round pick out of Iowa in 2023.
He is eligible for a contract extension this offseason and considered one of the Lions’ core homegrown players.
“The good news is the procedure went really well, long-term,” Campbell said.
Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Sam LaPorta injury update: Will Detroit Lions TE play vs Steelers?