The Detroit Lions will be without tight end Sam LaPorta when they host the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.
Detroit’s top tight end, who sustained a shoulder injury during the Lions’ win over the Houston Texans last Sunday, did not practice Wednesday, Thursday or Friday.
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On Friday the Lions officially ruled LaPorta out for the Week 11 contest against the Jaguars.
LaPorta has collected 25 catches on 32 targets for 366 yards and three touchdowns in nine games this season.
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What LaPorta’s absence means for the Lions’ offense against Jacksonville
LaPorta left Sunday’s win over the Texans with a shoulder injury, one coach Dan Campbell said after the game could sideline him for a week.
The second-year TE has dealt with various injuries all year — a hamstring injury in training camp, an ankle injury in September and now a shoulder issue.
With the Lions 8-1 with some struggling teams up next on the schedule (Jaguars and Colts), it makes sense to give their star TE some rest.
LaPorta did not practice this week. It’s a long season and the Lions will need him as close to 100 percent as possible when the playoffs begin. Expect to see Brock Wright and Shane Zylstra share the workload in LaPorta’s absence.
“We don’t feel like this is something like, ‘Oh, man, this going to be a long, nagging injury,’” Campbell said of LaPorta earlier this week. “I think we’ll get through it.” — Colton Pouncy, Lions beat writer
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