Despite the tough loss in Week 1 of the NFL season, Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta had a nice week, helping the offense move up and down the field. However, the Lions star went down with an injury in the first quarter of Detroit’s Week 2 matchup against the Chicago Bears.
What Happened to Detroit Lions TE Sam LaPorta?
LaPorta went down with an injury in the first quarter of the Lions’ Week 2 NFC North battle against Chicago after an incompletion on third down. He was carted off the field to the locker room. Thankfully, he has returned to the game after the scare on the less-than-stellar pass from quarterback Jared Goff.
It’s been a rough start to the season for tight ends. Fantasy managers are already down, George Kittle and Dallas Goedert. An extended LaPorta absence would even further thin the position. LaPorta had a solid showing in Week 1 despite a poor outing for the Lions’ offense. The 2023 second-round pick hauled in six passes for 79 yards.
Lions TE Sam LaPorta is taken off the field after that 3rd down incompletion. Headed to the Locker room
— 79th & Halas Podcast (@79thAndHalas) September 14, 2025
Without LaPorta, the Lions will lean even more on their other key offensive weapons. Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jahmyr Gibbs were already off to strong starts. They should see even more work, while Jameson Williams might be a bit more involved. There is no fantasy replacement at the tight end position for Detroit.
Brock Wright and Shane Zylstra sit behind LaPorta on the depth chart, but with the offense trying to get back on track from the disappointment of Week 1, the Lions may focus on getting their other playmakers the ball in the wake of his injury. Both Gibbs and David Montgomery have punched it into the end zone, and St. Brown looks like himself with 82 yards on three receptions in the first quarter.
His return to the field is promising, but it will be interesting to see how his injury affects the rest of his performance in Week 2. Should LaPorta be able to bounce back from the brief trip to the locker room, fantasy managers could see him haul in some receptions like he did a week ago in the Lions’ Week 1 matchup against the Green Bay Packers.
With Goff and the offense looking better, he should be able to haul in some dump-offs and be the solid presence at tight end that fantasy managers were expecting. Hopefully, Goff doesn’t put him in a similar situation today.
