The Lions avoided the worst-case scenario with Sam LaPorta. And there's a best-case scenario where the rookie tight end could be back on the field for Sunday's playoff game against the Rams.
"LaPorta has an outside shot now, so we’ll see," Dan Campbell said Monday after LaPorta suffered a hyperextended knee and a bone bruise in the Lions' win over the Vikings in the regular season finale. "In 48 hours we’re going to know a lot with him, but he’s got an outside shot."
In the aftermath of the injury, which Campbell acknowledged "looked awful" on video, it sounded like LaPorta would miss at least one game, possibly more if the Lions were to advance. Campbell said that it didn't look good "in the immediate here to have him for a game," and noted former NFL physician David Chao suggested it would be a week-to-week injury.
It sounds like LaPorta has progressed. Campbell said Monday that "we're talking in days not weeks here" in regard to both LaPorta and receiver and return man Kalif Raymond, who suffered a knee injury of his own in the finale.
Between that and the fact that both receiver Jameson Williams (ankle) and tight end Brock Wright (hip) are expected to return to practice this week and play on Sunday, Campbell said the Lions are "in a pretty good spot right now."
LaPorta was the Lions' second-leading receiver this season with 86 catches, an NFL record for a rookie tight end, for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns. He's Jared Goff's must trusted target after Amon-Ra St. Brown.