After appearing in 17 and 16 games in his first two seasons, Lions TE Sam LaPorta played in a career-low 9 games due to injuries last season. The injury bug has bit again, as LaPorta reportedly suffered a hip injury at practice this week.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell announced on Thursday afternoon that LaPorta has missed multiple practices due to the injury this week, followed by stating he doesn’t know if Detroit’s starting tight end will be ready for Week 1 of the regular season.
When will LaPorta return from the injury? Below, we’ll answer that and more, including the latest Sam LaPorta injury update, followed by the impact on fantasy football and projections for the Lions on PrizePicks.
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Sam LaPorta Injury Update: When Will Lions TE Return From Hip Injury?
Campbell’s uncertainty around LaPorta has led to some panic, but the Lions’ head man prefaced that with, “It flared up a little bit, it’s a little aggravated. But we feel good long-term about him. We’ll rest him for a little bit here and letting it calm down.”
This statement, paired with LaPorta’s injury history, provides comfort for the potential timeline of this injury.
LaPorta has yet to miss a game from a hip injury during his three-year NFL career. While he missed eight games from a back injury to end the 2025 season, LaPorta seemed fully recovered from the setback.
The fourth-year tight end does not have a history with hip injuries. This could simply boil down to the Lions practicing caution, giving LaPorta plenty of time to rest during the preseason.
LaPorta will likely miss the remainder of the preseason, and his status at practice will be vital going forward. If he begins to be a participant over the coming weeks, expect the Lions to potentially have their starting tight end vs. the Saints in Week 1.
Sam LaPorta Injury Opens Door for Brock Wright in Fantasy Football
If this hip injury lingers, LaPorta’s absence would certainly be a blow to the Lions’ offense. In fact, Detroit posted 31.4 points per game (PPG) when LaPorta was active a season ago, compared to 24.8 PPG in the final eight games without its starting tight end in the lineup.
The former Iowa Hawkeye posted a career-low 40 receptions and 489 receiving yards, but this came out to a solid 5.4 catches and 54.3 receiving yards per game. That’s actually ahead of his 4.4 receptions and 48.9 receiving yards per game over the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
According to PlayerProfiler, LaPorta’s 18.6% target share ranked 13th among tight ends in the 2025 season. He turned his 83.0% route participation (10th) into exceptional efficiency—such as 2.00 yards per route run (fifth) and 10.0 yards per target (third).
If the hip injury turns into a multi-game absence in the regular season, the Lions’ offense could surely become less productive, similar to what we saw last season. That would then make an impact on various season-long projections—including the Lions carrying a 1.38x payout to reach 10+ wins on PrizePicks Team Picks.
Lions TE Brock Wright is next up as the second-string tight end. When LaPorta missed the final eight games of 2025, Wright tallied only 4.0 targets, 1.7 receptions, and 12.3 receiving yards per game over a three-contest span. He then missed the final six games due to a neck injury.
According to FantasyPros’ consensus fantasy football draft rankings, LaPorta remains a coveted player as TE8 in PPR (point per reception) leagues. If he misses time, this could mean a pivot to Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR Jameson Williams, and/or WR Isaac TeSlaa.
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After RB Isiah Pacheco sprained his MCL last week, LaPorta’s hip injury is another major hit to the Lions’ offense. However, it’s early in his recovery process, suggesting Detroit’s starting tight end can still suit up for Week 1. Keep a close eye on LaPorta’s status, as Week 1’s clash with the Saints on September 13 rapidly approaches.
The NFL regular season begins on September 9, and users can make NFL predictions for the upcoming 2026 season, such as the Super Bowl winner, divisional winners, and win totals, on PrizePicks Team Picks—available in 36 states!
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