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Sam LaPorta injury update: Lions TE placed on injured reserve

Chandler Vesselsby: Chandler Vessels11/15/25ChandlerVessels

The Detroit Lions have placed tight end Sam LaPorta on injured reserve, it was reported Saturday. LaPorta is dealing with a back injury and will be forced to miss the next four games, making him eligible to return in Week 15 at the earliest.

It’s unclear exactly when LaPorta suffered the injury, but he played in last Sunday’s game against the Washington Commanders. The tight end ranks second on the team in receiving so far this season with 40 catches for 489 yards and three touchdowns.

LaPorta is in his third NFL season after being selected in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Iowa. He has missed only one game in his career up to this point, but that will obviously change with the news that he has been placed on IR.

LaPorta isn’t the only injury that Detroit is dealing with in its tight ends room, however. Brock Wright is also listed questionable for Sunday’s contest against the Philadelphiia Eagles due to an ankle injury. If he is ruled out, Ross Dwelley would likely be slated to start. Lions coach Dan Campbell expressed confidence in Wright to handle things if he is ultimately ruled in.

“Brock’s a guy we don’t talk a lot about, but he’s the jack of all trades. He does everything for us: pass protect, run block, he can run some routes, he plays special teams,” Campbell told ESPN. “He’s one of the most dependable players we have on this team.”

Detroit will be counting on Wright to fill in that void for at least the next few games while LaPorta remains sidelined. So far this season, Wright has recorded nine catches for 72 yards and a touchdown.

The Lions are currently tied for first place in the NFC North and only one game out of first place in the NFC standings. The Eagles are one of the two teams ahead of them, so there will be plenty on the line when this game kicks off at 8:20 p.m. ET on Sunday.

Other than LaPorta, two other Detroit players have also been ruled out for the contest against the Eagles. Safety Kerby Joseph (knee) and cornerback Terrion Arnold (concussion) will also both be sidelined.