Lions TE Sam LaPorta dealing with hip injury, threatening his Week 1 availability

ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta, coming off season-ending back surgery, is now dealing with a hip injury that could threaten his availability for the season opener.

“Sam, the other night, he got hit in the hip and it just flared up a little bit,” coach Dan Campbell told reporters Thursday. “It’s a little aggravating, but we feel good long-term about him. We’re just resting him for a little bit here and letting it calm down.”

When asked if the injury could linger into the regular season, Campbell said, “I feel like we’ll be OK, but I don’t know.”

This is troubling news for the Lions if LaPorta is forced to miss time. LaPorta missed eight games during the 2025 season after suffering a back injury in Week 10 versus the Commanders. After evaluating his options, LaPorta opted for season-ending surgery to repair a herniated disc, and the Lions placed him on injured reserve shortly thereafter. His absence drastically shifted the offense.

From Weeks 1 through 10, the Lions were in 12 personnel (two tight ends, one running back, two receivers) for 32.9 percent of their offensive snaps — seventh-highest in the league. Their 11 personnel (one tight end, one running back, three WRs) rate in that span (53.1 percent) ranked 23rd. From Weeks 11 through 18 without LaPorta, the Lions recorded the sixth-highest 11 personnel rate at 63.7 percent, as their 12 personnel rate plummeted to 11.6 percent (27th). Detroit’s offensive success rate fell from eighth in Weeks 1-10 to 23rd in Weeks 11-18.

This offense isn’t the same without LaPorta. The Lions hoped LaPorta could put the injury bug behind him after an offseason of rest, and in practice, he was looking like himself again. But after taking a hit during Monday’s practice (with a walk-through Tuesday), LaPorta did not participate in practice Wednesday and now we know why.

It seems like the Lions won’t rush LaPorta back on the field, and hope the added rest will get him ready for the Week 1 opener at home against the Saints on Sept. 13. LaPorta is also entering the fourth and final year of his rookie contract, so it’ll be interesting to see if this injury affects those talks.