Sam LaPorta is likely out for the season. Dan Campbell announced Friday that the Lions' star tight end had a recent procedure on his injured back and "is going to be out for a while."
"I think we would be fortunate to have a chance to get him back for the rest of this season, at any point. I think that’s very, very slim," Campbell said. "Good news is, the procedure went really well, long-term."
LaPorta was second on the team to Amon-Ra St. Brown in targets, catches and receiving yards prior to his injury, and one of Goff's favorite targets on key downs. The Lions felt his absence in their 16-9 loss to the Eagles last week when they went 0-for-5 on fourth down and 3-for-13 on third.
Brock Wright will be the Lions' No. 1 tight end in LaPorta's absence. He caught two passes on seven targets for eight yards against the Eagles.
"Losing Sam hurts because he’s a hell of a football player. He can do it all, run block, obviously the receiver that you get," Campbell said. "But yet we still got Brock and there’s things he can do."
Campbell also mentioned reserve tight ends Ross Dwelley and Anthony Firkser as candidates to see bigger roles, with the Lions likely activating Firkser from the practice squad for this Sunday's game against the Giants. Swing tackle Dan Skipper will also aid in replacing some of LaPorta's blocking duties.
The Lions' offense operates frequently out of 12 personnel -- one running back, two tight ends. That won't necessarily change in LaPorta's absence, said Campbell, because "I believe in using multiple packages."
"Certainly I want to get our playmakers on the field, but still want to be able to dabble in some 12 personnel, just because I think that’s good for us up front and it enables us to do other things. It sets up a little bit more of what you do offensively," Campbell said. "Now, it doesn’t mean we’d go 60 reps of it, but we still use it. Certainly losing Sam hurts, but we’ll adjust, we’ll adapt. We got plenty of weapons here and our O-line is going to do a hell of a job."
Rookie wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa is another player who could see a bigger role moving forward as a big-bodied complement to the Lions' receiving corps.
"Second half of the season, especially with the young guys, you’re not a rookie anymore," Lions receivers coach Scottie Montgomery said Friday. "You’ve had almost a full college season under your belt. ... It's time for our younger guys to start playing a more important role."