ALLEN PARK — Lions coach Dan Campbell was an NFL tight end for 10 seasons so he has a little insight into Sam LaPorta’s world, but apparently not too much.
Campbell is first to admit he didn’t have near the impact as LaPorta has shown through 12 games of his rookie season.
“First of all I don’t know what that’s like, I know what the run game part of it is like. I have no idea what it’s like to go out there, get open, run routes and catch some balls. I was never even close to that,’’ Campbell said on Monday.
Sure enough in Campbell’s rookie season with the Giants he played in a dozen games with one start and had zero receptions. In his 10-year career he had 91 catches and 11 touchdowns.
It’s fair to say that LaPorta, who was drafted 34th overall, is a different animal. In fact it’s scary to think how good he can become.
LaPorta received the game ball after his nine catches for 140 yards and a touchdown in Sunday’s 33-28 win at New Orleans. He became the first tight end in NFL history to produce at least 60 receptions, 600 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns through the first 12 games of a player’s career.
Not bad. And, as Campbell said, it’s not all about the stats, he is a complete player.
“It is not easy to play this position as a rookie and to do all we’re asking him to do because he does it all, it’s in the run game, it’s protection and then you see the pass production. That’s what everybody sees, the numbers, the separation,’’ Campbell said. “But nobody has any true idea of all the other stuff he does for us. That’s what a tight end does. I’m glad he’s ours.’’
Campbell said LaPorta just keeps growing.
“He doesn’t say a word, he just goes to work, he’s hard on himself but he never gets down, he never feels sorry for himself when he makes a mistake, it drives him,’’ Campbell said. “I know this, in critical times of the game he always shows up. It’s not easy but he’s making it look easy, I know that.’’
In a solid four-year college career at Iowa, LaPorta had just five touchdown catches. He’s surpassed that mark and the Lions have five regular season games remaining.
Here’s a few other crazy stats from Sunday’s win:
— He became the sixth rookie tight end in NFL history, and first since 1995, to produce a game with 140 receiving yards and a touchdown.
— He recorded his sixth touchdown reception of the season, passing TE David Hill (five in 1976) for the second-most a Lions rookie has produced.
— LaPorta has produced seven five-catch games this season. This ties for the second-most by a rookie tight end in NFL history and for the second-most by a tight end in franchise history.
— His 64 receptions are the second-most a Lions rookie has had in a season, regardless of position. The team record is 90 catches, set by WR Amon-Ra St. Brown in 2021.
INJURY UPDATE: Center Frank Ragnow, who injured his knee Sunday, got good news from tests on Monday but Campbell says that doesn’t mean he will play Sunday … LB Alex Anzalone (hand) could have a chance to play this week after sitting Sunday. … DL Alim MacNeil, who was injured Sunday, could miss this week’s game.
UP NEXT: Lions (9-2) at Chicago Bears (4-8), 1 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 10. The Lions beat the Bears, 31-26, in their first meeting.
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