Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta met with reporters as the team wrapped up postseason media availability, and for the first time, he opened up about the back injury that cut his 2025 season short, and why surgery ultimately became unavoidable.
LaPorta revealed that the injury actually dates back to Detroit’s matchup against the Washington Commanders, when a series of hits finally caught up to him.
“There were some accumulated falls and hits that I took in the weeks leading up to that game… and then of course, it happened in the Commanders game. I fully herniated the disc,” he said as quoted by Lions OnSI.
At first, LaPorta believed he might only miss a couple of weeks. But as the pain lingered — and worsened — his mindset shifted from hopeful to realistic. Instead of returning, the former second-round pick and the Lions medical staff agreed surgery was the safest path, especially given how early he is in his career.
“I was gimpy, walking around like an 80-year-old man… Backs aren’t anything to mess with, and I want to have a long, healthy career,” LaPorta said.
Before the injury, LaPorta was once again one of Detroit’s most reliable offensive weapons. Through nine games in 2025, the Pro Bowl tight end recorded 49 receptions for 480 yards and 3 touchdowns, pushing his three-year totals to 252 catches, 2,104 yards, and 20 touchdowns, incredible production for such a young player.
Now six weeks removed from surgery, LaPorta says he’s entering the next stage of rehab and feeling optimistic about his timeline.
Dan Campbell has already hinted that the goal is to have LaPorta back for OTAs, and the tight end echoed that — with one important caveat.
“Yeah, that is the plan… Hopefully by OTAs I am up running around. But I really got to get this back right before I’m out there taking those hits.”
The time away from the field has been unfamiliar territory. LaPorta admitted he’s barely missed time at any level of his sports career, making this stretch especially tough to process.
“To have only played nine games this season, I was clearly disappointed. It was hard to sit on the couch and watch my teammates play without me.”
Still, don’t expect LaPorta to change who he is as a player. The Lions star said he isn’t planning to alter his physical, aggressive style of football, because that edge is part of what makes him who he is.
“You just have to assume you’ll make it through the game healthy… Freak accidents happen. You train and prepare, and sometimes things just happen.”
If rehab stays on track, LaPorta should be back in the mix for Detroit’s 2026 season, and given what he’s already proven in just three years, the Lions will be thrilled to have No. 87 back in the huddle.
Jeff Bilbrey
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