INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 12: Sam LaPorta #87 of the Detroit Lions looks on during warm ups before the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium on November 12, 2023 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell provided an encouraging injury update on star tight end Sam LaPorta ahead of Sunday’s NFC Wild Card Round contest against the Los Angeles Rams.

The rookie standout suffered a bone bruise and hyperextended his knee in the second quarter of last week’s regular season finale against the Minnesota Vikings. LaPorta was carted off and did not return.

Per Colton Pouncy of The Athletic, Campbell stated that LaPorta is “improving”, though he doesn’t expect them to have an idea on the tight end’s status for another two days.

“He’s improving. He was out there in walk-through,” Campbell told reporters. “I don’t foresee us knowing anything or feeling like we have a real good picture until Friday afternoon…But he’s improving.”

LaPorta earned a Pro Bowl nod after finishing with 86 receptions for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns. LaPorta’s 86 catches were the second-most among all rookies, behind only Puka Nacua of the Rams.

There’s plenty of hype around the Rams-Lions game, and not just because it’ll be Detroit’s first home playoff contest in 30 years. It also marks the return of Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who will visit Ford Field as part of the opposition for the first time.

Stafford played for the Lions from 2009 to 2020 before getting traded to Los Angeles in a 2021 blockbuster trade that brought Jared Goff over to Detroit. The trade has been a win-win for all parties, as Stafford led the Rams to a Super Bowl 56 championship in his first season there.

Goff, once viewed as a bridge QB, has led Detroit to consecutive winning seasons as well as their first division title in 30 years.