Lions counting on Sam LaPorta

Tim Twentyman of the Lions’ official site writes that TE Sam LaPorta is “expected to play a big role right away.” It’s a reasonable statement given LaPorta’s TE competition: Brock Wright, James Mitchell, and Shane Zylstra. Per Twentyman, Detroit’s coaching staff came away from OTAs/minicamp “pleasantly surprised” with the rookie’s “instincts and feel for the game.” We’ll see if LaPorta can keep up the momentum come training camp. For now, he’s on a trajectory to enter the spot-start TE1 discussion. Factoring in his current ADP — TE19 — LaPorta made our list of best tight ends for fantasy football.

Lions TE Sam LaPorta (knee) is active for today's Divisional Round game vs. the Bucs. He suggested on Friday that his knee is feeling better now than it did last week. LaPorta still isn't at 100% but has plenty of fantasy upside vs. Tampa Bay's 27th-ranked TE defense.

Lions TE Sam LaPorta (knee) is listed as questionable for Sunday's Divisional Round game vs. the Bucs. He was limited in the final two practices of the week, but it sounds like that was part of a maintenance plan as he works back from that knee injury. "The trusting of my knee has progressed quite a bit," LaPorta said Friday. "Just reaching and planting for cuts. Certainly, the achiness has progressed. Just trying to make it feel better all week. Get the right amount of work but not too much at the same time." LaPorta still won't be at 100% on Sunday -- but he should be closer than he was for last week's win over the Rams.

Lions HC Dan Campbell said Wednesday that TE Sam LaPorta (knee) is "coming along" in his recovery from a Week 18 knee injury. "He's gotten better," Campbell added. "He feels better than he did this time last week. It's encouraging." LaPorta drew just three targets in the Wild Card win over the Rams. But he scored a TD, played 80% of the offensive snaps, and ran a route on 80% of pass plays. We'll track his practice participation this week, leading up to Sunday's game against the Bucs' 27th-ranked TE defense.

Lions TE Sam LaPorta (knee) is active for tonight's Wild Card game vs. the Rams. He'll reportedly play with a brace on that injured knee and probably won't be close to 100%. You're likely banking on a TD if you use LaPorta in fantasy football tonight.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport hears that Lions TE Sam LaPorta (knee) is "trending in the right direction to play" vs. the Rams tonight. "Very limited in practice, LaPorta will likely wear a brace," Rapoport adds. LaPorta will certainly be at less than 100% and a strong candidate to be on a snap count if he does end up active for this one. We'll get Detroit's inactives around 6:45 pm ET tonight.