by: Alex Byington 8 hours ago _AlexByington
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell announced that superstar tight end Sam LaPorta has recently undergone back surgery to address an injury that sent him to injured reserve. Campbell said any chance of LaPorta returning this season is “very, very slim.”
“(LaPorta) did have a procedure, alright, and he’s going to be out for a while, a while. I think we’d be fortunate to have a chance to get him back for the rest of the season, yeah, … I think that’s very, very slim,” Campbell said during Friday’s press conference. “The good news is the procedure went really well, long-term.”
Coach Campbell with an update on Sam LaPorta pic.twitter.com/f1mmlmivkq
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) November 21, 2025
The Lions placed LaPorta on injured reserve last Saturday due to a back injury. He is now likely to miss the remainder of the 2025 season after undergoing surgery this week.
Sam LaPorta injury update: Lions TE placed on injured reserve
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.