Will Sam LaPorta Be Ready For Training Camp?

Lions HC Dan Campbell gave a semi-optimistic update Wednesday on TE Sam LaPorta, who underwent back surgery in mid-November. "Yeah, he's getting better," Campbell said. "It wouldn't have been one of those things where you get in the playoffs. Did he have a chance to play? No, it wouldn't be that. But I feel like next year, that certainly isn't off the table early in the year. You'd like to believe training camp we'll get him. But you're talking about a back. And he's improving, but yet, he's not completely healed. ... Certainly, it feels better after the surgery than he did right before, so that's a positive. Took a lot of stress off that nerve, so we'll see." LaPorta's rehab will be one of the bigger storylines of the offseason. He was sitting ninth among TEs in PPR points per game through Week 10. He'll be worth a shot in early best-ball drafts if he's going in that late-TE1 territory. But we wouldn't be rushing out to acquire LaPorta in dynasty right now. The back issue likely adds short- and long-term health risk to his profile.