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Lions TE Sam LaPorta ‘optimistic’ he’ll be ready to play Sunday vs. Rams

ALLEN PARK — Lions tight end Sam LaPorta said Thursday he is optimistic that he will be able to play in the wildcard game against the Rams on Sunday night.

The rookie didn’t warm up with the rest of the team during Thursday’s practice (which was open to the media) and was officially listed as having “no practice” on the injury report, but he got a little work in.

“I was taking the same blocking reps that we do in our individual drills, ran some routes with Jared (Goff),’’ LaPorta said.

LaPorta hyperextended his knee in the win over the Vikings on Sunday when his cleat got caught in the turf. He was carted from the sideline to the locker room, which is often not a good sign. He did not return to the game.

“It was scary when it first happened, I think everybody had seen a picture of it,’’ LaPorta said. “There was definitely a sigh of relief when I found out structurally everything was good.’’

Since Monday coach Dan Campbell has said there is a chance LaPorta will be able to play, but he won’t know for sure until Friday afternoon.

“I’m not out there getting as many reps as I had these past weeks. Certainly staying on top of the game-planning aspect, but still trying to recover my body, make it feel good and be ready for the game,” LaPorta said.

LaPorta said he’ll probably wear a knee brace as a precaution to make sure the hyperextension doesn’t happen again.

“I’m not sure how much it would inhibit me or practically keep it from happening again. It was a fluke thing,’’ LaPorta said.

In the Lions’ 12-5 season, LaPorta was tied with Amon-Ra St. Brown for most receiving touchdowns with 10 each.

“He’s been a beast. I know he broke some records … He shows it on the field every week, he’s reliable, he’s tough, he can do it all,’’ St. Brown said. “He’s definitely a big part of the offense and we hope he can be with us on Sunday.’’

LaPorta had the most receptions (86), receiving yards (889) and touchdowns (10) by a tight end in franchise history, He was the second rookie in NFL history to produce a season with 85-plus catches, 850-plus receiving yards and 10-plus touchdowns.

Injury update

Others who did not practice Thursday: QB Teddy Bridgewater (personal), CB Jerry Jacobs (thigh/knee) and WR/PR Kalif Raymond (knee). TE James Mitchell (hand) was limited.

UP NEXT: Wildcard playoff game: Rams (10-7) at Lions (12-5), 8 p.m. on Sunday at Ford Field. It’s the Sunday night game on NBC.

Lions Jared Goff wants to win for Detroit fans; doesn’t get caught up in facing his former team

Dan Campbell says Goff is ‘wired the right way’

ALLEN PARK — While much will likely be made about quarterbacks Jared Goff and Matthew Stafford leading up to Sunday’s wildcard matchup between the Lions and Rams, it’s just one scene in the big picture.

After the 2020 season the teams swapped quarterbacks and it paid immediate dividends for the Rams who won the Super Bowl with Stafford in his first season there.

It’s been a slower process with Goff, but it has worked. The Lions came within a whisker of making the playoffs last season and they take a 12-5 record into Sunday night’s game at Ford Field.

Goff has led the NFL’s second-best offense with an even-keel approach.

He’s really not into the whole Stafford-Goff storyline for the game. He’s moved on.

“I so badly want to win a playoff game for this city, which hasn’t had one for so long. That’s my biggest motivation this week,’’ Goff said on Wednesday.

Also Goff said he hasn’t really shared his playoff experience with his teammates. Some of them have postseason experience and others have played in five primetime games this season, finishing with a 4-1 record in those nighttime affairs. He just wants every one to play their best game.

“He’s wired the right way, he’s been through this, he’s been to the Big One. He’s dealt with this a number of times, not just in playoff wins,’’ coach Dan Campbell said.

Campbell recalled once again that in 2018 when he was an assistant with the Saints, Goff brought the Rams to New Orleans and won the NFC Championship in overtime. Subsequently the Rams lost in the Super Bowl.

“He’s been in the big ones and he understands what it is, he understands that you can’t get too high or too low, you focus on your job,’’ Campbell said.

In Goff’s six playoff games in 2017, 2018 and 2020 the Rams were 3-3 overall. In those postseason games Goff threw four touchdown passes, two interceptions and was sacked 14 times. His completion percentage was 57.4 percent. (In comparison, this season he has completed 67.3 percent of his passes.)

If he has a chip on his shoulder from being traded to Detroit, don’t expect it to show.

“Look, I don’t think you’re going to see anything different than what he’s been, I don’t think he’s going to say anything different. It’s human nature to feel a certain way … I think he’s handled it all well,’’ Campbell said. “I don’t think this is going to be something that he loses sleep over, that he loses focus on. He understands this – if you really feel that way the best way to do it is play the very best football you can play.’’

Injury update

Tight end Sam LaPorta, who injured his knee on Sunday, did not practice on Wednesday. Campbell said they likely won’t know if he can play until Friday afternoon. WR Kalif Raymond (knee) did not practice. Others who didn’t practice include offensive linemen Taylor Decker, Graham Glasgow and Frank Ragnow who are listed as getting rest. CB Jerry Jacobs (thigh) had limited practice.

WR Jameson Williams (ankle) practiced Wednesday and is expected to play Sunday after missing Sunday’s win over the Vikings.

UP NEXT: Wildcard playoff game: Rams (10-7) at Lions (12-5), 8 p.m. on Sunday at Ford Field. It’s NBC’s Sunday night game.

Lions Dan Campbell says the real fun starts now; injury update on LaPorta, others

ALLEN PARK — The wildcard home matchup against the Los Angeles Rams excites Lions coach Dan Campbell. No surprise there. He lives for this.

The coach loves that the Rams are a hot team – they’ve won seven of their last eight. They are also a team the LIons haven’t faced since 2021, a regular season loss in L.A.

“I like that, I like the newness of it,’’ Campbell said on Monday.

The Lions wrapped up the regular season with a 30-20 win over the Vikings on Sunday at Ford Field and a 12-5 record. They clinched the NFC North title a few weeks ago.

“It’s been fun, but this is when it gets really fun. This is why you do, this is why you coach, why you play for these moments right here,’’ Campbell said.

While he is more into game-planning he certainly does understand the underlying storyline of Matthew Stafford returning to Detroit and Goff facing his former team. Oh, and GM Brad Holmes came to Detroit via the Rams.

The coach gets it.

“It’s a reminder too, though, and Goff knows this, for example. We win as a team,’’ Campbell said. “This is about the Lions vs. the Rams. We win with three phases here and he’s a huge part of that and all he has to do is his part and he knows that, do what he’s been doing all year.’’

Injury update

Tight end Sam LaPorta has an outside shot at playing on Sunday, according to Campbell. They will know more in 48 hours. LaPorta left Sunday’s game with a knee injury. The coach said he is talking days, not weeks.

Immediately after the game, Campbell said LaPorta’s injury wasn’t as bad as it looked. It would be a boost if he can get in against the Rams.

The coach also said WR/PR Kalif Raymond (knee) is basically in the same situation as LaPorta although maybe a little behind.

WR Jameson Williams, who did not play Sunday due to an ankle injury and illness, is expected back at practice this week and should be ready to play against the Rams.

LB James Houston (ankle) will practice, but it’s unclear if he’ll be ready to go. TE Brock Wright (hip) could also practice this week after missing a month of play.

Also, DE John Cominsky was inactive Sunday because Campbell wanted to give him a rest. Said he’d put on a lot of hard miles this season with all the dirty work he does.

NEXT UP: Los Angeles Rams (10-7) at Detroit Lions (12-5), 8 p.m. on Sunday at Ford Field in the wildcard playoff game.