Michigan’s Allen Park (AP) A week after hurting his left knee, tight end Sam LaPorta of the Detroit Lions is hopeful he will be well enough to play in an NFC wild-card game against the Los Angeles Rams.
“I got some reps today at practice,” LaPorta said Thursday. “Starting to feel better day by day.”
Late in the first half of Sunday’s game against the Vikings, the rookie was tackled by Minnesota safety Josh Metellus, bending his left leg awkwardly.
LaPorta was not the only one thankful for the relatively good news.
The third-seeded Lions, who need the Iowa second-round pick to keep Matthew Stafford off the field when the Rams visit Ford Field on Sunday night, need him to be one of their best players.
With 86 receptions, the Pro Bowl player broke the mark held by Keith Jackson from 1988 in Philadelphia for receptions by a rookie tight end. He also set team records at the position with 889 yards received and 10 touchdowns.
LaPorta and Odell Beckham are the only rookies in league history with at least 85 receptions, 850 yards, and 10 touchdown catches, having both played for the New York Giants in 2014.
