Cover Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta was on pace for a great season, more than 75 receptions, 900 yards and five touchdowns. He reemerged in 2025 as quarterback Jared Goff’s number two option in the receiving game. LaPorta seemed to be Goff’s security blanket. He converted 57.5 percent of his catches into first downs for the Lions’ offense.
“He’s going to be out for a while… a while,” said Head Coach Dan Campbell to reporters Friday.
Campbell characterized getting LaPorta back at all this season as “very slim,” but that surgery on LaPorta’s back was successful.
It is an understatement to say LaPorta will be missed. He was a mismatch most defenses could not account for. Goff threw to LaPorta any down. LaPorta caught 14 passes on first down in 2025, 14 on second down, nine on third down and three on fourth down. With the Lions struggling to convert on third downs in 2025, 37.6 percent, LaPorta was essential to keeping drives alive.
Backup Brock Wright, the fifth year tight end out of Notre Dame, is bigger than LaPorta. Hopefully, he can fill in admirably as a blocker and red zone target. Wright is 6’5” and 254 lbs. LaPorta is 6’3” and 245 lbs.
Dan Campbell, to MLive, had this to say on Wright.
“Brock’s the guy we don’t talk a lot about, but you know, he’s the jack of all trades, man. He does everything for us. Pass protect, run block, he can run some routes, he plays special teams like he’s one of the most dependable players we have on this team.
“And, at the end of the day, what you really need in the tight end position is versatility and smarts. And he’s got both of those. And he’s tough. So, he checks a lot of boxes of a well-rounded tight end. And so that is always going to make me feel a lot better, make us offensively feel a lot better.”
With the Lions currently on the outside of the playoff standings, Wright could play a pivotal role in saving the season. Encouragingly, Goff targeted Wright seven times in a close game on the road against the Eagles. Trust is already there.
Look for Wright to continue being an outlet for Goff, especially in short yardage and the red zone. His size makes him an easy target.
The Lions can still win the NFC North and make the playoffs. Even in a loss to the Eagles, they proved they can compete against any team in the league.
Wright is not LaPorta, a second team All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection, but he looks capable of blocking with ferocity and catching the ball when Goff looks his way. Wright has 67 career receptions on 89 targets, a 75.2 percent catch rate.
The Lions will be fine.
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