Analysis

LaPorta was targeted on only three of Jared Goff's 55 passes, as the second-year tight end has played a secondary role early in 2024 after an outstanding rookie regular season in which LaPorta compiled 889 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. The emergence of wide receiver Jameson Williams has cut into LaPorta's opportunities, as Williams has 20 targets compared to eight for LaPorta heading into a Week 3 road game in Arizona.

Analysis

LaPorta was quiet for the majority of Week 1, though he logged an 18-yard reception on Detroit's final possession of regulation, which ended with a game-tying field goal from Jake Bates. Quarterback Jared Goff didn't have the most effective night, limiting the tight end's overall upside against Los Angeles. LaPorta will look to get more involved in Week 2 when the Lions host the Buccaneers, a team against whom the tight end caught nine of 11 targets for 65 yards in the divisional round of the postseason in 2023.

Analysis

LaPorta came down with a hamstring injury Aug. 5, which spurred the Lions to take a cautious approach with the second-year tight end for the rest of training camp and the preseason. Detroit didn't actually hold a practice Wednesday, but he wouldn't have been limited if the team had taken the field. With his availability now clear for Sunday's game versus the Rams, LaPorta will reclaim his standing as the Lions' second pass catcher behind wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown, which amounted to 86 catches (on 120 targets) for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns in 17 regular-season games as a rookie in 2023.

Analysis

LaPorta and fellow second-year standout Jahmyr Gibbs (hamstring) both resumed practicing last week after having missed a substantial portion of training camp due to hamstring issues. Campbell said Monday that only Ifeatu Melifonwu (undisclosed) is a real candidate to miss Week 1 due to injury, though, so, while it remains to be seen whether LaPorta and Gibbs have yet resumed practicing in full, both players should be on the field during Sunday Night Football to take on Los Angeles. LaPorta set the receptions record for a rookie tight end last season with 86 catches, and he could still have room to grow entering Year 2.

Analysis

The tight end was one of many Lions to resume practicing Sunday, and it marked his first on-field work since the first week of August. LaPorta is on track to be ready for a Week 1 game against the Rams on Sunday, Sept. 8, but it still will be worth monitoring the situation to make sure he gets back to full practice participation before then.

Analysis

Campbell mentioned the day after Detroit's preseason finale as a possible return date for a bunch of injured players, including LaPorta and RB Jahmyr Gibbs (hamstring). While it's not ideal to have two stars dealing with summer hamstring injuries, there's been no indication that either playmaker is expected to remain out for long. LaPorta was first reported to be dealing with an injury Aug. 5.

Analysis

LaPorta has been nursing a hamstring injury, and he was on the sideline for Detroit's second preseason matchup. None of the team's starters played in the contest, so the tight end's absence isn't necessarily an indication of where he's at with the injury. LaPorta will look to return to practice this week, but at this point, he appears unlikely to play in Saturday's preseason finale at home versus Pittsburgh.

Analysis

The Lions opted not to play their key skill players in the contest, but LaPorta has been dealing with a hamstring injury, so he probably wouldn't have played Thursday even if they had. The star tight end's next chance to see game action is Aug. 17 against the Chiefs, but he'll need to get some practice time in before then for that to occur.

Analysis

The injury is considered minor, but it's safe to assume LaPorta will miss Thursday's preseason game against the Giants even if he feels much better by then. LaPorta didn't miss any games as a rookie last year, making 17 appearances in the regular season and three more in the playoffs.