Is Sam LaPorta playing tonight? Lions TE's status revealed for Week 14 TNF game vs. Packers

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta had a slow start to the season, but he has shown signs of improvement in the past few weeks. He had an impressive two-touchdown performance against the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving in Week 13 despite only catching three passes for six yards.

The Lions will be looking to solidify their position atop the NFC North standings this week when they host the Green Bay Packers at Ford Field. Let's look at LaPorta's availability status for that Week 14 clash.

Exploring Sam LaPorta's availability status for Thursday Night Football

The Detroit Lions will have tight end Sam LaPorta available for Thursday night's game against the Green Bay Packers, even though they will have to deal with the availability of several other key players.

If there is no pregame injury setback, the second-year pass-catching tight end will play against the Packers as he was not listed on Detroit's injury report this week.

LaPorta has struggled with a series of injuries this season, starting with a hamstring strain during training camp and an ankle injury early on in the season. Additionally, he had a shoulder problem a few weeks ago. But after a strong performance last week, he might be fully recovered now.

Although LaPorta and other offensive key players are healthy for this game, the Lions will be without some important defensive players because of injuries. Alongside left tackle Taylor Decker (knee), Detroit has ruled out defensive lineman Josh Paschal (knee), defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike (hamstring) and defensive tackle DJ Reader (shoulder) for the critical NFC North game.

How has Sam LaPorta performed this season?

Sam LaPorta was one of the league's top young tight ends in his rookie campaign in 2023. However, this season, he has struggled to establish a steady impact in the Lions offense.

Before he had arguably his best performance of the season against the Chicago Bears in Week 13, it had been a tough year for LaPorta, who is still looking for his first 100-yard game of the campaign.

On Thanksgiving, though, he made a comeback as a vital member of the Lions offense by returning two touchdown catches. Laporta has now amassed 391 receiving yards from 31 receptions and five touchdowns in 11 games this season after his performance in Week 14.

The expectation is that LaPorta's showing in Week 13 has given him enough self-assurance to carry him through the remainder of the year. Should that be the case, he might be able to return to the level of productivity he achieved in 2023.